Inside an Iranian attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz

"Before chancing the treacherous waters of the Strait of Hormuz, the all-Filipino crew of 23 had been stranded at anchor for more than a month in the Persian Gulf as the U.S. and Israel waged war against Iran. They had huddled on the cargo ship's bridge to cast a final vote: Should they risk the perilous six-hour journey, made treacherous by mines and Iranian attacks? Although the path was closed to most international traffic, there was no way out but through."

"Their worst fears came to pass: As the vessel navigated the Strait of Hormuz, it met with a hail of bullets that shattered windows and pockmarked it with dents. The crew scattered for cover, caught up in the ripple effects of a conflict in which they had no part. The gunfire appeared to come from small Iranian boats."

"Before each of the five votes the sailors wound up holding ahead of their passage, the captain printed and handed out copies of letters from the Greek shipping company managing the vessel, urging them in increasingly strident terms to go for it, and expressing what sailors, some paid as little as a few hundred dollarsa month, described as "great disappointment" at their refusal, according to two seafarers who took part."

"The pros: They were being offered an additional two months' pay to take the risk, were already sitting off the coast of a war zone and wanted to avoid being blacklisted by their company or in the industry. "We get out of here, and after that no more overthinking, no more fear, no more sleepless nights," one seafarer said. The cons: "We might get blown up by a rocket," he said. "Or something like that.""

An all-Filipino crew of 23 remained stranded at anchor in the Persian Gulf for more than a month while the U.S. and Israel fought Iran. With no route out except through the Strait of Hormuz, the crew held repeated votes on whether to attempt the six-hour crossing, despite mines and Iranian attacks. During the passage, the ship was hit by gunfire that shattered windows and dented the vessel, with shots appearing to come from small Iranian boats. The captain distributed letters from the Greek shipping company urging the crew to proceed, offering additional pay and warning of disappointment. Some sailors chose to avoid blacklisting and end fear and sleepless nights, while others feared being blown up by rockets or similar attacks.

Read at The Washington Post