The International Maritime Organization urges establishment of a secure route amid heightened risks from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, safeguarding seafarers on commercial vessels.
In response to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency responsible for regulating shipping, has called upon member countries to collaborate in establishing a safe maritime corridor in the Gulf region. This measure aims to facilitate the secure evacuation of commercial ships and protect the approximately 20,000 seafarers aboard nearly 2,000 vessels trapped west of the Strait of Hormuz. The recent hostilities have severely disrupted shipping activities in this strategic waterway, which handles about one-fifth of the global oil supply. Since the conflict’s escalation on February 28, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened to target any vessel passing through the Strait, resulting in numerous attacks and incidents causing at least seven fatalities among seafarers. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez urged flag states to advise ships stationed east of the Strait against taking unnecessary risks by sailing westward under current conditions. While the IMO did not specify a timeline for implementing the safe corridor, it highlighted the urgent need to reduce threats to maritime workers in this high-risk zone. Cooperation from Iran remains uncertain. The initiative underscores the critical importance of maritime safety and the protection of overseas workers, including Filipino seafarers, many of whom operate in these waters.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/world/980691/un-shipping-agency-imo-calls-for-safe-corridor-to-evacuate-seafarers-from-gulf/story/