The International Maritime Organization has temporarily suspended its operation to evacuate vessels and crew stranded in and around the Strait of Hormuz, after a ship was attacked off the coast of Oman on Thursday, June 26.
According to Ship & Bunker, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez confirmed the pause in a statement, noting that the targeted vessel was not operating under the IMO’s evacuation framework. Despite this, the incident prompted a reassessment of safety conditions across the region.
Evacuation Effort Put on Hold
“Following the launch of the IMO’s evacuation plan, through which several vessels have already been successfully evacuated, I have decided to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region,” Dominguez stated, as quoted by Ship & Bunker.
The evacuation initiative, announced earlier that week in coordination with Oman, had aimed to move more than 11,000 seafarers who remained stranded in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A temporary shipping corridor had been established to facilitate their movement through the area.
Rising Tensions Shape the Backdrop
The attack occurred shortly after the Iranian Navy issued a warning that vessels seeking to transit the Strait of Hormuz must use only the route designated by Iran, cautioning against any alternative passage. Ship & Bunker reports that AIS tracking data from Friday morning showed only limited vessel movement through the Strait, with some ships sailing closer to the Iranian coastline.
The broader diplomatic context remains complicated. Ship & Bunker notes that the US and Iran are currently engaged in ongoing negotiations under a 60-day framework, with one key point of contention being Iran’s demand that ships pay transit fees and use state-designated routes — a position the US has opposed.
The IMO also cancelled a press briefing scheduled for Thursday following news of the incident.
Does This Matter to You?
The pause in the IMO’s evacuation framework has direct implications for the wider maritime community. With thousands of seafarers still stranded in one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints, the suspension introduces fresh uncertainty around crew welfare, vessel movement, and route planning in the region.
The Iranian Navy’s warning about alternative routes adds another layer of complexity for anyone managing vessels in or near the Strait. Freight movements, fuel supply chains, and cargo scheduling through the Gulf region may all face continued disruption while safety guarantees are being reassessed and diplomatic negotiations remain unresolved, as reported by Ship & Bunker.
The IMO has indicated it will resume the evacuation plan once further clarity on safety conditions is obtained.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
