The head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) warned that military protection cannot fully secure vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said naval escorts do not “100 percent guarantee” safe passage through the strategic waterway, stressing that such measures are neither sustainable nor a long-term solution for restoring commercial traffic.
According to IMO estimates, around 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard vessels in the region, raising concerns over food, water, and essential supplies as waiting times increase.
Dominguez warned that ships immobilized in the Gulf risk running low on provisions, underscoring the human impact of the crisis on crews who remain at sea for extended periods.
He also urged ship managers to avoid exposing vessels and crews to unnecessary risk, emphasizing that seafarers should not become “collateral damage” in a conflict unrelated to commercial shipping.
The role of naval escorts remains a key point of debate among governments. While some countries have considered deploying warships to secure tanker traffic, international consensus remains limited.
Recent statements from political leaders have highlighted divisions over burden-sharing, as proposals for coordinated escort missions have met resistance from several allies.
An extraordinary session of the IMO Council is taking place on 18–19 March in London, where member states and industry stakeholders are assessing the impact of the crisis on maritime operations across the Arabian Sea, Sea of Oman, and the Gulf.
The meeting is expected to focus on risk mitigation measures, coordination between governments and industry, and support mechanisms for affected crews.
