France, Aug. 29 -- On Saturday 31 January, Iran announced live-fire naval exercises simulating a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. From the bridge of the Banglar Joyjatra, Islam watched as ships piled up at anchor and maritime traffic ground to a halt.

Two days later, the vessel crossed the strait. For Islam and his 31 crew members, however, the passage marked the beginning of an ordeal that would last nearly four months.

The vessel spent the following weeks loading and unloading cargo, including steel, at ports in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. On 26 February, it reached Jebel Ali in the UAE, the region's main logistics hub and one of the world's largest container ports. War reaches Jebel Ali

"Up to that point, everythin...