Jakarta. State-run energy giant Pertamina has clarified reports of its Hormuz-trapped vessel being entirely manned by Indian seafarers, saying that a third party is responsible for the recruitment.

Pertamina has recently made waves not because of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, but a social media post that revealed its Gamsunoro ship had carried an all-Indian crew. Gamsunoro has been unable to exit the Persian Gulf as Iran’s shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz persists. The foreign hiring quickly drew public backlash. Labor has become a sensitive issue in Indonesia as the country still grapples with unemployment.

The company’s marine logistics subsidiary Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) rolled out a clarification on Monday. For international markets that span from Asia to Africa, Pertamina typically hires out the use of its vessel to a charterer, and also works with a “ship management”, according to the statement. The company framed this as a “common practice” in the marine industry.

“A third party has chartered the [Gamsunoro]. They have hired crews while keeping in mind international regulations and strict standard operating procedures,” the statement reads, without going into details on who has rented the ship.

PIS acting corporate secretary Vega Pita went on to explain that “94% of the company’s crews were still dominated by Indonesian seafarers” in another attempt to calm public nerves.

Pertamina Group reported having hired approximately 4,090 Indonesians on its ships, sailing in both domestic and international waters.

Only 278 -- or around 6% of the entire crew -- are foreigners, again, without disclosing their nationalities.

The world is reeling from the energy disruptions triggered by the US-Israel war against Iran.

PIS recently had to cancel its Hormuz release after Iran decided to reimpose the restrictions. Tehran previously was willing to reopen the strait, but quickly rolled back on the decision after Washington blocked its ports. A quarter of the world’s maritime oil trade transited through the Strait of Hormuz. It is also the only sea passage out of the Persian Gulf.

Another Indonesian tanker -- Pertamina Pride -- is stranded in the Persian Gulf and was supposed to bring home light crude oil.

Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told reporters on Monday that Jakarta would “continue to engage in active negotiations with Iran” for the Hormuz release. He added: “But we can’t spill everything to the public because this is something related to geopolitics.”

The backlash started with an Instagram post by sailor and social media influencer @andrianumar.

In a video, Andrian was seen checking on the Panama-flagged Gamsunoro over the radio. An Indian crew member responded while admitting that the other people on board had come from India. Andrian finds this ironic, citing that Indonesia has 1.4 million seafarers and among the world's top suppliers for ship crew members.