IMO Pauses Persian Gulf Evacuation Operation After Gulf of Oman Attack
IMO temporarily suspended its evacuation operation after a vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, pending a review of regional security conditions.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily halted its evacuation initiative in the Persian Gulf following a security incident involving a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said several vessels had already been successfully evacuated since the operation was launched. However, he noted that the organization has decided to pause the initiative while it verifies that the necessary security guarantees remain in place for ships included in the evacuation plan and for all vessels operating in the area.
According to Dominguez, the attacked vessel had previously transited the Strait of Hormuz but was not participating in IMO’s evacuation framework. Nevertheless, he stressed that the safety and well-being of seafarers remain the organization's highest priority.
The evacuation operation will remain suspended until the security situation becomes clearer, allowing IMO to ensure a coordinated approach and maintain navigational safety throughout the region.
Marking the Day of the Seafarer, Dominguez also highlighted the urgent need to protect the thousands of seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf and ensure they can be evacuated safely without becoming victims of the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
