**Title: IMO Secretary-General Urges Action Amid Ongoing Maritime Crisis in Hormuz**
**Date: October 2023**
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has raised alarms regarding the ongoing maritime crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, where up to 400 ships, carrying approximately 6,000 seafarers, remain unable to depart safely from the Persian Gulf. This situation has persisted for six months, following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized the unresolved nature of the crisis, which has left thousands of maritime workers in precarious conditions marked by heightened risk and uncertainty.
While some vessels have successfully navigated their exit from the region, the majority remain trapped, contributing to a broader disruption affecting over 20,000 seafarers, port workers, and offshore crews across the area. The IMO has documented 70 attacks on international shipping as of late August, resulting in the deaths of 19 seafarers. Notable incidents include fatal assaults on the vessels Minoan Dignity and Riyan Star, with another seafarer reported missing following an attack on the Minoan Pioneer.
In response to the escalating crisis, the IMO Council initiated a call in March for the establishment of a temporary safe maritime framework to facilitate the safe passage of merchant vessels confined within the Gulf. This voluntary mechanism, designed for vessels under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, aimed to assist those wishing to depart while ensuring adherence to international navigation rights.
Between June 23 and June 26, the framework successfully aided 136 vessels and approximately 2,900 seafarers in leaving the region. However, the operation was temporarily halted after an attack on a vessel that had traversed the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the IMO to reassess safety guarantees before proceeding with further evacuations.
The IMO is also collaborating with a United Nations-led task force focused on the Strait of Hormuz, working alongside member states and the shipping industry to formulate a comprehensive response to the ongoing crisis. Dominguez underscored the serious implications of the situation, warning that disruptions to supply chains for essential commodities, including fuels and fertilizers, could have far-reaching effects on global communities and economies.
In July, the IMO Council adopted a resolution aimed at safeguarding vital shipping lanes and condemned the attacks on civilian commercial vessels in the region. The resolution reaffirmed that transit passage through straits utilized for international navigation must remain unimpeded and free from tolls, in accordance with international law. It also called for a de-escalation of regional tensions.
Despite these measures, Dominguez stressed the necessity for renewed political will and cooperation among member states and the shipping industry to effectively restore freedom of navigation through the Strait. He remarked, “I call on all Member States and the shipping industry to work together with IMO and the wider United Nations system, to advance practical solutions to restore the freedom of navigation through the Strait.”
Furthermore, Dominguez highlighted a concerning trend of deteriorating maritime security across various regions, including the Black Sea, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden. He noted that the decline in maritime security is detrimental on a global scale, particularly affecting the thousands of innocent seafarers caught in these precarious situations.
As the situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to unfold, the international maritime community remains vigilant, calling for collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and security of maritime operations in this crucial waterway. The ongoing uncertainty poses significant risks, not only to seafarers but also to global trade and economic stability.