The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily halted its planned evacuation of more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo vessel came under attack while transiting the strategic waterway.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation had already evacuated several crews but was being suspended until authorities could confirm that adequate security measures remained in place to protect those involved.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that the incident occurred on Thursday when a merchant ship sailing about 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s Port of Dahit was struck by what it described as an “unknown projectile.
” No injuries were reported.
Evergreen, owner of the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Ever Lovely, confirmed the ship sustained only minor damage and safely completed its passage through the strait.
The company added that all crew members and cargo were unharmed.
According to US media, American officials believe Iranian forces were responsible for the strike.
The incident followed warnings from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which said ships using an IMO-designated navigation corridor without coordinating with Iranian authorities would face unacceptable risks.
Ship-tracking data reviewed by BBC Verify indicated that the Ever Lovely had been travelling along the southern route recommended for commercial traffic through the strait.
Although the IMO confirmed the vessel was not operating under its evacuation programme, Dominguez stressed that the safety of seafarers remained the organisation’s highest priority, leading to the temporary suspension of the operation until the security situation becomes clearer.
More than 11,000 sailors aboard hundreds of commercial vessels have remained stranded in the Gulf since February following the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The evacuation initiative, announced earlier this week, was developed with the cooperation of Iran, Oman, the United States, neighbouring coastal states and maritime industry representatives after the waterway was reopened.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned that vessels travelling outside officially approved routes would not be guaranteed safe passage and that any resulting consequences would be the responsibility of ship owners, operators and captains.
The latest developments come despite last week’s 14-point agreement between Washington and Tehran, under which Iran pledged to make its best efforts to ensure safe commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days.
However, Iranian authorities have maintained they intend to impose maritime service charges on vessels using the route, a proposal strongly opposed by the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently visiting Bahrain, reiterated that no nation has the right to levy tolls on what Washington considers an international waterway.
Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz after US and Israeli military operations began in late February, disrupting global energy supplies and sending oil prices sharply higher.
The closure also affected shipments of key commodities, including fertiliser.
Since the United States and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 17 June aimed at reviving negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme and ending the conflict, oil prices have declined significantly.
On Thursday, crude briefly dropped below $72.50 per barrel before recovering slightly to around $73.23.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong