IMO preparing a plan to evacuate vessels in Hormuz

April 25 ------ The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is preparing a plan to evacuate around 800 vessels that remain stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, IMO’s Secretary-General said on the sidelines of Singapore Maritime Week.

According to Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, the evacuation can only proceed if the conflict de-escalates and the region is confirmed safe, specifically free of threats like naval mines. The proposed plan focuses on creating a “safe maritime corridor” to prioritize the evacuation of seafarers rather than cargo. Ships would depart in an organized sequence, partly based on how long crews have been stranded.

Any movement would follow the long-established Traffic Separation Scheme developed by Iran and Oman and adopted by the IMO in 1968.

Dominguez also issued a strong statement on recent attacks on ships in the Middle East. He said the attacks and seizures of commercial vessels are unacceptable and called for them to stop immediately, along with the release of all ships and seafarers being held. He warned that the situation remains extremely volatile and questioned why companies would continue to take risks that endanger lives at sea.

He described speaking to a seafarer stranded in the Persian Gulf, who reported constant stress from missiles overhead, the risk of debris hitting the ship, the need to ration supplies, and difficulty keeping his family informed. While that seafarer was eventually able to leave, Dominguez noted that nearly 20,000 others remain stuck after more than seven weeks, still unsure when they can return home.

"De-escalation, meaningful actions and restoring the freedom of navigation is the only way forward," Dominguez concluded.

Source: safety4sea.com