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Up to 80 Hong Kong-linked ships stuck around Strait of Hormuz, trade group says

Hong Kong Shipowners Association urges industry members to be careful, citing ‘very low’ predictability of United States and Iran

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Connor Mycroft

Published: 5:50pm, 4 Aug 2026Updated: 5:54pm, 4 Aug 2026

A Hong Kong shipping industry body has estimated that as many as 80 of its ships and 1,600 seafarers are stuck in or near the Strait of Hormuz, with the sector forced to contend with more than five months of on-and-off conflict in the Middle East.

Richard Hext, chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, shared the figures on Tuesday as the industry group revealed its recommendations for the city’s first five-year plan and Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s coming policy address.

He also said that while 20 to 30 association-linked vessels were able to leave the region safely during the short-lived ceasefire in June, dozens of ships carrying more than 1,000 seafarers remained stuck in the strait.

“So, our current working estimate is that there are roughly 70 to 80 Hong Kong Shipowners Association member ships, with around 1,400 to 1,600 seafarers on board remaining in or near the conflict zone,” he told a press conference.

The United States-Israel war against Iran has sparked a global shipping crisis and disrupted supply chains as passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely cut off.

Despite multiple rounds of negotiations and failed attempts at ceasefires, vessels continue to face challenges sailing along the narrow waterway, with some even coming under attack.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he wanted to give the Iranians “every last chance before decapitation” while Tehran has denied that any negotiations were taking place.