Master under fire: Inside a merchant ship trapped in the Gulf war zone

Captain Mohit Kohli’s harrowing account of navigating the Strait of Hormuz highlights the extreme dangers faced by merchant vessels caught in escalating geopolitical conflicts. As drone strikes and missile threats transform commercial shipping lanes into active war zones, crews are forced to operate without adequate military protection or clear intelligence. This reality exposes a critical gap in maritime security, leaving ships vulnerable to misinformation and kinetic attacks while transiting through high-risk areas near the Persian Gulf and surrounding regional ports.

The ongoing crisis underscores a failure in current maritime safety frameworks, particularly regarding SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. While these regulations focus on anti-terrorism and piracy, they remain insufficient for state-sponsored drone threats and missile warfare. Compliance departments must now re-evaluate their Risk Assessment protocols under the ISM Code to address these modern combat risks. Failure to update security management systems leaves vessel operators in breach of international safety standards and compromises the structural integrity of the ship.

Masters and navigating officers bear the heaviest burden when managing these volatile transit zones. These professionals must prioritize advanced situational awareness, implementing rigorous watch-keeping protocols and electronic warfare countermeasures to detect incoming threats early. It is essential for command teams to maintain constant communication with regional maritime security centers and strictly adhere to updated Best Management Practices (BMP) to ensure the safety of the crew and the preservation of the vessel during periods of heightened military activity.