ALERT. Human Rights at Sea has been contacted by families of foreign national seafarers who have been detained and whose whereabouts remain unknown in Iran for allegedly having images and video media of the Hormuz crisis on their personal phones.
In one case, an Indian family member of an Indian crew member legitimately working on an Iranian flagged vessel since September 2025 contacted Human Rights at Sea to inform the organisation of the detention of two of the crew for the past two months.
The crew were detained allegedly for possession of conflict media.
In a statement to Human Rights at Sea, the family said: "We have had no direct communication with him, and our entire family is in severe trauma and deeply worried about his health, safety, and legal status."
Indian authorities have registered the case as a family instigated official grievance.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched an air war against Iran and assassinated its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
RISK ADVISORY Global maritime industry bodies, insurers, shipowners, managers, and recruiters should be alert to a potential emerging pattern of deprivation of liberty affecting foreign nationals working in, or for, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Detention risks appear to be linked to the possession of media imagery or video material relating to the Hormuz crisis and the wider conflict involving the US and Israel.
For seafarers operating in the region, possession of such media, particularly content reflecting external or foreign perspectives may present a direct risk to personal safety, wellbeing, and access to consular support.
Employers, managers, and crewing agents should ensure crews are appropriately briefed on these risks and consider implementing clear guidance on the possession and storage of personal media devices while operating in the region.
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Source: Human Rights at Sea 2026
Photo credit: Seafarer Family, HRAS, Co-Pilot AI