The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has put a temporary halt to its evacuation efforts for stranded seafarers in the Persian Gulf, following a recent attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman. This decision comes just a day after the IMO had unveiled a comprehensive plan to evacuate over 11,000 seafarers trapped around the Strait of Hormuz, a situation exacerbated by the US-Iran conflict that began in late February, disrupting commercial shipping in the area.
The evacuation operation was already underway, with some crews being relocated to safety, when the security incident prompted a pause. Since June 23, 57 ships carrying approximately 1,100 seafarers have navigated the Strait of Hormuz as part of a United Nations evacuation plan. IMO has released initial data indicating the number of ships transiting the area. On June 23, 13 ships passed through, followed by 32 on June 24 and 12 on the morning of June 25.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez confirmed that the suspension was necessary for ensuring navigational safety and to reassess safety guarantees for vessels involved in the evacuation. He noted that the attacked ship was not part of the IMO’s evacuation framework.
Previously, the IMO had secured security guarantees to facilitate the organized movement of vessels out of the region. In collaboration with Oman, a temporary maritime corridor was established to manage these evacuations, with ships set to be moved in stages through designated routes to minimize congestion and collision risks. Ships were to be assigned specific transit days and instructed to contact coastal authorities to confirm safe passage before proceeding.
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