An Iraqi captain keeps sailing despite the threat of attack amid regional war
BAGHDAD (AP) — On an oil tanker plying the tense waters between the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Oman. Strait of Hormuz, Iraqi Captain Rahman Al-Jubouri continues to operate in one of the world’s most unstable sea corridors, where the US-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted global trade and left some crews stranded and vulnerable to attack.
Hostilities are not new for al-Jubouri, a veteran who has been at sea since 1984 and has lived through decades of turmoil, including the Iran-Iraq War and the 1991 Gulf War. It once again finds itself operating in high-risk waters, with occasional military strikes threatening ships trying to pass through tight spots like Bab al-Mandab and the Persian Gulf.
“Working has become a real risk; we don’t know when we might be bombed. We’re walking through a fireball,” he said.
Al-Jubouri has been on the Palau-flagged tanker Sea Moon for four months. Currently, he and his crew are sailing from the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman to unload oil from the port of Ras Isa in Yemen. He spoke to The Associated Press by phone.
The war has thrown merchant shipping into the crossfire of a regional war amid an ongoing dispute between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz. Many tankers were targeted in the attacks carried out by Iranian forces and allied groups. Intermittent blackouts and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil flows, have also caused ships to be delayed, rerouted or stranded in the Gulf.
American military forces on Sunday Iranian flagged cargo ship was forcibly seized The attack, which attempted to breach the naval blockade near the Bosphorus, was the first such intervention since the blockade of Iranian ports began last week.
The dangers of his job mean his crew undergo regular safety drills to prepare for possible attacks. “We have trained them on how to respond if, God forbid, the ship comes under fire,” he said.
Last year, his ship came under bombardment while docking at a Yemeni port. “I immediately cut the ropes, prepared the engines, and left the port at my own risk to protect the crew and the ship,” he said.
As it moved away, the tanker was struck by shrapnel, causing minor damage, but the crew escaped unharmed. Despite the ongoing threat, the ship then returned to port operations and continued on its planned route.
But not all of al-Jubouri’s crew can withstand the dangers of the job. He said his team had dwindled from 27 sailors to 17. Fear drove them away.
Long distances at sea further increase the psychological toll. Al Juburi has not been able to see his family for four months. Like many sailors, he struggles with homesickness.
“We suffer from being away from our families and hometowns,” he said. While internet access on the ship allows crew members to stay in touch, the distance is felt especially harshly amid the tensions created by the ongoing war.
At least the basic ingredients remain constant. Food and bottled water are regularly replenished at the port and no major shortages have been reported.
He said Al-Jubouri’s 40 years at sea allowed him to adapt under pressure.
