Approximately 1,500 ships and around 20,000 crew members are currently stranded in the Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO). This blockade has significantly disrupted global shipping operations in this crucial trade corridor.
Dominguez made these remarks during the Maritime Convention of the Americas held in Panama, highlighting the severe impact of the blockade on international maritime activities. He stated, “Right now, we have approximately 20,000 crewmen and around 1,500 ships trapped,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The blockade follows heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly after military strikes by Israel and the United States against Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran has taken retaliatory actions that have further complicated maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
This narrow waterway is essential for global energy and commercial trade, with a significant percentage of the world’s oil shipments passing through it daily. The ongoing disruption poses serious implications for international trade and energy security.
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