An MTWTU seafarer on a missile attack in the Strait of Hormuz: what happened on board.

After the first strikes on port infrastructure in the Hassan area, the situation in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz escalated sharply. Tensions in the region increased rapidly, and shipping companies as well as vessel crews began paying closer attention to the security situation along one of the world’s most important maritime routes.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key corridor for international trade and energy transportation, so any incident in this area immediately attracts the attention of the global maritime community. During this period, the crew of a merchant vessel near Bahrain found themselves at the center of events.

A seafarer who is a member of the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU) agreed to share his experience during the missile attack. For security reasons, his name is not disclosed. We spoke with him about what the crew saw at the moment of the explosions, how the team reacted in the first minutes, and how the security situation in the region looks today.

- Where exactly was the vessel at the moment of the incident, and what did you and the crew see or hear when the explosion occurred nearby?

At the moment the incident began, we were in the port of Bahrain. With the assistance of a tugboat, we were carrying out a mooring operation. Crew members who were on deck saw the trails of missiles and heard sharp blasts — the explosions were happening directly above their heads.

- What was the crew’s first reaction? What actions were taken on board in the first minutes after the incident?

If we talk about the ratings, they were fairly confused at first (our ratings are mainly from the Philippines, Indonesia, and India). The officers, however, continued performing the mooring manoeuvre. The pilot on board, on the contrary, appeared unsettled and rushed the process.

- How close did the explosion occur to the vessel, and did the crew feel any effects such as a shockwave, vibration, or alarms in the port?

As mentioned earlier, the explosions occurred practically above our heads. We did feel a slight shockwave. The port alarm sounded almost at the same moment as the explosions.

- How did port services and other vessels in the docks or at anchorage react after the incident?

Port services dispersed almost immediately. This included firefighters who are supposed to remain on board during a vessel’s stay in port, as well as security personnel controlling access through the gangway. Many simply left their workplace without even shutting down or de-energising the equipment they had been using.

- Did the crew receive any official notifications or instructions from the company or security services after the event?

There was no need for that, because all such procedures are already described in the Ship Management System (SMS) of our company. We constantly operate in a maritime area close to Iran, so procedures for situations involving military activity are already in place. In addition, general emergency drills of this type are regularly conducted on board.

- Were additional safety measures introduced for vessels in the port?

No.

- How do incidents like this affect the psychological state of the crew? How can a captain maintain calm and discipline on board in such situations?

The situation developed in such a way that the senior officers on our vessel are Ukrainians who were in Ukraine when the war began. Their families and relatives are still in Ukraine. Therefore, there was no panic among the senior officers. The rest of the crew (ratings and junior officers) saw this, and to this day, no one has panicked — everyone continues to perform their duties in their respective positions in accordance with the vessel’s manning schedule.

- In such circumstances, what helps the crew the most — experience, training, or trust within the team?

Confidence in the competence and decisive actions of the officers.

- You are a Ukrainian who has experienced war in your own country. Did you have any personal associations or memories when the explosion occurred nearby?

At that moment, I perceived it as something almost routine.

- Do you think such events are perceived differently when you already have experience of war at home?

I think so.

- How would you assess the current security situation in the region? Is there a sense of increased tension in shipping?

I cannot judge the situation across the entire region, but in Bahrain, there is a noticeable increase in tension. This is due to the fact that the US Fifth Fleet is based here, its main naval base in the region. In addition, important infrastructure facilities are located here, including major Amazon data centres, the main shipyard, and a fuel base serving both civilian and military vessels. For this reason, the region remains a potential target — almost every day, mainly after sunset, missiles are launched at it, which usually reach their targets.

- In your opinion, are existing international mechanisms sufficient to protect civilian shipping in such regions today?

No.