The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily halted a mission to evacuate over 11,000 sailors trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. This decision follows an attack on a cargo ship navigating the channel. IMO leader Arsenio Dominguez stated that while some sailors had already been moved to safety, the agency requires further security assurances before continuing the operation.
On Thursday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an unidentified projectile hit a vessel 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman. No injuries were reported, and the vessel involved, the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, continued its journey without needing assistance, according to risk firm Vanguard. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) issued a warning via social media, stating that vessel owners are solely responsible for any outcomes resulting from the use of non-designated shipping routes.
The evacuation mission was recently organized following a 14-point agreement intended to de-escalate tensions between the US and Iran. Although the IMO project had the support of various coastal nations and industry leaders, Dominguez clarified that the vessel struck on Thursday was not participating in the UN-sanctioned evacuation framework. He emphasized that the safety of maritime crews is the priority, noting that the mission will remain paused until the regional situation is better understood.
Tensions surrounding the waterway remain high, particularly regarding Iranian demands for service fees on passing ships, a policy heavily criticized by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Despite these ongoing diplomatic frictions and the recent attack, global oil prices have seen a recent decline following the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the hostilities that began in February.
