Thousands of civilian workers remain stranded on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, caught in the crossfire of the Iran war and at risk of attack by Iran. On one vessel, sailors have been held by the Iranian navy for more than three months.
Meanwhile, the world's largest shipbroker is notching record earnings from what it calls the 'exceptional volatility' in the strait. A maritime trade expert said geopolitical chaos actually increases the importance of such firms because people are becoming more desperate.
The developments highlight the war's dual impact: a humanitarian crisis for seafarers and a financial windfall for some in the shipping industry.