The current ceasefire between the United States and Iran is not sufficient to guarantee the safe movement of thousands of seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has warned.
Speaking ahead of Posidonia in Athens, Dominguez said the security situation remains too unstable to launch crew evacuation or transit operations.
According to IMO estimates, around 20,000 seafarers remain aboard vessels trapped in the Gulf as restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz continue.
Dominguez said the IMO has been working to establish a secure maritime corridor and has recently held discussions involving Iran in Oman. However, uncertainty over access to the waterway continues to complicate efforts.
“You get announcements that the Strait of Hormuz is open, and then a few hours later, the Strait of Hormuz is closed,” Dominguez told Reuters. “We can’t take the risk until we have something more secure.”
IMO data shows that 11 seafarers have been killed in the Gulf since the US-Iran conflict escalated on February 28.
Shipping companies say crews urgently need a negotiated route out of the region after months at sea. Pankaj Khanna, chief executive of Heidmar Maritime Holdings, said one of the company’s vessels has remained trapped in the Gulf for three months.
Industry representatives argue that even if a broader political agreement is reached, shipping operators will still require clear operational procedures and reliable security guarantees before normal crew movements and vessel transits can resume.
