From his cabin, 37-year-old sailor Zhang Changchui films a horizon saturated with stationary oil tankers. Like him, thousands of sailors have been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war between Iran and Israel and the United States, which began on February 28. With over 100,000 followers on social media, he shares the story of this endless wait.
“We are still stuck, we continue to maneuver in the strait. It’s the same for the other boats around us,” he explains in one of his videos. In the distance, he sees the Iranian coast and fears an escalation: “The Americans will come here and turn the strait into a battlefield, I’m sure of it.”
On board, living conditions are deteriorating. The crew has not been supplied for a month, forcing everyone to adapt. Zhang describes a daily life of scarcity and rationing.
“It’s been a month since we were supplied, so we continue to ration fresh water,” he says. In the cabins, three containers are used to manage water: one for collecting sea water used for toilets, another for personal hygiene such as washing the face and showering, and a bottle dedicated to brushing teeth.
In terms of food, supplies are running low. “We only have a few cabbages, onions, and potatoes left,” the sailor points out. The rest of the meals depend on daily fishing, which has become essential for survival. Even attempts to grow watermelons on board have failed.
Zhang’s situation is far from isolated. Around 20,000 sailors are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, waiting for the conflict to unfold and maritime traffic to potentially resume.
Context: The content describes the plight of sailors stuck in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing war between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Fact Check: The information provided in the article is based on the firsthand account of sailor Zhang Changchui and the challenges faced by him and other sailors in the region.
