Muscat, Oman. The International Maritime Organisation has temporarily suspended its evacuation plan for vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf after an attack on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Oman. The decision has raised fresh concerns for seafarers, shipowners and major maritime centres such as Cyprus and Greece.
Evacuation plan suspended
The UN shipping agency said the decision was taken after a vessel that had passed through the Strait of Hormuz was attacked. The vessel was not travelling under the IMO evacuation framework, but the incident was enough to halt an operation that had only just begun moving stranded ships and crews out of the region.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said several vessels had already been successfully evacuated, but that the organisation now needed to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees remained in place.
He said the evacuation plan would remain paused until further clarity is obtained, adding that the safety of seafarers remains paramount.
Shipping disruption and scale of operation
The move comes at a delicate point for international shipping. The IMO had launched the evacuation plan earlier this week in cooperation with member states and industry, after months of disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy and trade routes.
The plan was designed to allow vessels to leave the Persian Gulf in a controlled and sequenced manner, rather than creating congestion in a narrow and highly militarised waterway. According to the IMO, around 11,000 seafarers were expected to be evacuated under the framework.
Reuters reported that by Wednesday morning, around 57 ships carrying about 1,100 seafarers had already used the routes before the pause was announced.
Attack details and political sensitivity
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said a vessel had been hit by an unknown projectile off Oman, causing damage to the bridge.
No casualties or pollution were reported. AP later cited a US official as saying the ship had been struck by an Iranian drone, although the IMO did not identify either the vessel or those responsible.
The incident has also exposed the political sensitivity around the evacuation plan. Iran has challenged routes developed without its full approval, saying safe passage through Hormuz can only take place through sea lanes recognised by Tehran. Iranian authorities have also told ships to maintain contact with naval forces through international maritime channels.