The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has stopped its evacuation plan for ships stranded in the Persian Gulf after a merchant vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. This is a setback for efforts to help thousands of seafarers caught in the conflict.
This decision came just a day after the IMO started coordinating the movement of hundreds of merchant vessels and over 11,000 seafarers who have been stuck in the area due to the ongoing conflict.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the operation is on hold as the organization reviews whether the necessary safety measures remain in effect for the ships involved.
"After launching the evacuation plan, which successfully helped evacuate some vessels, I've decided to put it on hold temporarily. This is so we can confirm that safety measures are still in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region," Dominguez said.
This decision follows an attack on a Singapore-flagged container ship as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz. According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the ship was hit on its starboard side by an unidentified projectile approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman, causing damage to the bridge. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or environmental damage.
Dominguez made it clear that the attacked vessel was not part of the IMO-led evacuation efforts.
"I have been informed about the attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman that passed through the Strait of Hormuz. This vessel was not part of the IMO’s evacuation plan," he said.
"The safety of seafarers is our top priority. Therefore, to ensure a safe approach and navigation, the evacuation plan will remain paused until we get more clarity," he added.
The suspension has been formally communicated to the shipping industry through UK Maritime Trade Operations, which confirmed that the IMO-supported vessel movement process is "paused until further notice."
UKMTO also stated that it will not notify vessels about their inclusion in the IMO planning batches during the suspension period and advised operators to keep an eye on IMO communications, coastal state guidance, Notices to Mariners, and the latest security assessments from the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) before setting out on voyages.
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) reiterated its rules on Strait of Hormuz transit procedures, warning that ships using unauthorized routes would not be covered by "safe passage guarantees" or insurance protections. "Any passage through routes not designated by PGSA will not have safe passage guarantees and will not be covered by insurance or related liabilities," PGSA said in a statement posted on X.
The agency noted that any consequences of taking unauthorized routes would fall on the "owner, operator, and vessel commander."
The attack raised concerns among shipping industry groups that had supported the IMO's phased reopening of the Strait.
"BIMCO is very concerned about the recent attack on a merchant ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the inshore traffic zone off Oman," said Jakob Larsen, BIMCO's Chief Safety & Security Officer.
Larsen viewed the incident as a setback for plans to evacuate ships and resume traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, though he mentioned that some transits might still happen.
He also highlighted the need for clearer agreements between Washington and Tehran regarding maritime traffic through the Strait.
"This situation shows the importance of clear and unambiguous agreements between the U.S. and Iran concerning the resumption of maritime traffic through the Strait. The wording of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding is currently not clear enough," Larsen noted.
BIMCO has urged shipowners to consider the recent developments in their voyage risk assessments and to continue following industry Best Management Practices for Maritime Security and specific guidance.
The latest assessment from the Joint Maritime Information Center, released before the attack, indicated gradual improvements in the security environment. JMIC reduced the regional maritime security threat level to MODERATE following the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding and reported an increase in commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz via both the southern Omani corridor and the northern Iranian-controlled route. However, it also warned that GNSS interference, IRGC surveillance activity, and the risks associated with drifting naval mines are still ongoing.
Earlier on Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) renewed its warnings that vessels need Iranian permission to navigate the Strait using designated routes. Following the attack, EOS Risk Group head Martin Kelly mentioned that the Singapore-flagged container ship had been struck after repeated warnings, but no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The suspension is a significant drawback for the international effort to restore commercial shipping through one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Under the plan launched earlier this week, vessels were instructed to stay in place until they were contacted individually before moving through a temporary corridor set up in coordination with Oman.
This announcement came on the International Day of the Seafarer, a global observance honoring the approximately 1.8 million merchant mariners worldwide.
"Today, on the Day of the Seafarer, we emphasize the importance of ensuring that the evacuation of the thousands of seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf can happen without them becoming collateral victims in this geopolitical conflict," Dominguez stated.
The IMO has confirmed that the evacuation operation will remain on hold until a clearer understanding of the security situation is achieved and they can ensure that the necessary safety measures are still in place for ships and crews waiting for evacuation.