Christians are being urged to pray for sailors using the Strait of Hormuz, as it reopens in light of a newly signed deal between Iran and the US. 

However, it could be far from plain sailing for one of the world's busiest shipping routes, as backlogs could take weeks to clear. 

According to the shipping monitor MarineTraffic, only a handful of ships have passed through so far, including Iran's own tankers.

Christian maritime charity Sailors’ Society has launched its Sea Sunday 2026 resources, encouraging churches across the UK to pray for and support the world’s seafarers, especially those serving in the Strait of Hormuz. The resources include prayers, worship ideas and educational videos aimed at Sunday schools. 

Sara Baade, CEO of Sailors’ Society, said: “Every day, seafarers sail through regions that many of us only hear about in the news. Behind every vessel are men and women who spend months away from their families, often facing uncertainty and stress.

“Sailors’ Society is here for these seafarers, providing practical, emotional and spiritual support to them and their families worldwide through chaplaincy, crisis response and wellbeing programmes. Sea Sunday is an opportunity for churches to hear about this work and to stand with our seafarers in prayer, encouragement and practical support.”

Sea Sunday takes place on 12th July 2026, but churches are encouraged to use the resources at any time during the year, including at Harvest.