Anchored off Sharjah, MV Banglar Joyjatra crew face drones, missiles overhead

Anchored about 150km off Sharjah, a Bangladeshi cargo vessel is caught in the eye of a regional storm, with drones and missiles crisscrossing the skies as the crew waits for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The MV Banglar Joyjatra, a vessel owned by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), has been stationed in the maritime boundary of Sharjah port in the UAE for the past eight days, carrying 31 Bangladeshi crew members and awaiting its next destination.

The crew described living under constant “panic” as the conflict unfolds around them.

Captain Shafiqul Islam, commanding the vessel, said "Hundreds of drones or missiles are flying over our heads every day. There is no certainty when or where an attack might occur. Our main job in such a situation is to keep our morale high."

“Living under a sky filled with these weapons of destruction is, in fact, worse than the fear of being struck by lightning,” he said.

The ship arrived at Dubai's Jebel Ali port on Feb 26 from Mesaieed port in Qatar, carrying 38,800 tonnes of steel coils.

Offloading was delayed due to tensions rising from US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Just a day after docking at Terminal 10, a missile hit an oil reservoir 200. from the ship, causing a fire and raising alarms about the crew's safety.

After unloading, the ship’s charterers designated Mumbai as the next destination.

The UAE Coast Guard, however, halted their journey through the Strait of Hormuz due to security concerns, forcing the vessel to drop anchor in deep waters near Sharjah.

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek said the crew is safe, and the ship is stocked with sufficient food, water, and fuel.

Despite being stranded, Shafiqul, with over 34 years of experience at sea, noted that the crew must continue their daily duties to maintain the ship, with 24-hour watch rotations in the bridge and below deck.

They monitor the anchor, check for collisions, and now watch for potential attacks, he said.

The crew relies on limited internet access to connect with worried family members, which helps boost their spirits, the captain said.

The mariners are now preparing to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in the Middle East.

They plan to offer Eid prayers and arrange special meals on board the stranded vessel.

Shafiqul remarked that while they were not scheduled to be home for Eid based on their contract, they also had not expected to be caught in the middle of a conflict zone.