-
Evacuation of seafarers stuck in the Persian Gulf has been halted after Iran fired at a cargo vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz
-
The International Maritime Organization said initial information indicate that the vessel did not transit under the set evacuation framework
-
Evacuation will resume once “further clarity” is made
The evacuation of seafarers stuck in the Persian Gulf has been halted after Iran launched a drone strike at a cargo vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz in supposedly safe lanes in the Gulf of Oman, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced.
“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,” IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.
READ: Evacuation of 11,000 seafarers set as IMO confirms safe navigation in Hormuz
Dominguez said he was informed that the vessel that was attacked “did not transit under IMO’s evacuation framework.”
He said, “I have always reiterated that the safety of the seafarers remains paramount. Therefore, to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.”
According to Qatar-based media network Al-Jazeera, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards issued a warning to all commercial vessels to only use routes approved by the Iranian government after Oman announced another safe lane that was coordinated with the IMO.
The United Nations maritime agency is leading the implementation of the evacuation plan in cooperation with member states and the shipping industry.
Day of the Seafarer
Dominguez noted that the drone strike took place on June 25, observed globally as the Day of the Seafarer. This year’s theme highlighted their key role in global trade while carrying the risks of conflicts.
“Today marks the Day of the Seafarer, underlining the importance of ensuring that the continued evacuation of the thousands of seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf can proceed without the risk of them becoming collateral victims in this geopolitical conflict,” the IMO head said.
READ: MARINA honors Filipino seafarers, vows stronger support
IMO data show there were more than 20,000 seafarers as well as affected port workers in the region, including those stranded on vessels that are unable to exit the Strait of Hormuz, since the Middle East crisis started on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran.
One of the immediate retaliatory moves undertaken by Iran was closing the critical narrow waterway, where about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through.
The reopening of the strait is part of an initial peace deal between the US and Iran that was announced on June 15. A 60-day negotiation is ongoing for the detailed terms of a more permanent agreement.
READ: WSC, IMO stress freedom of navigation in Hormuz with US-Iran peace deal
