The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said approximately 115 vessels carrying 2 500 crew members had exited the Gulf during the first three and a half days of the evacuation effort. The mission was launched to assist an estimated 11 000 seafarers stranded on about 600 ships since the escalation of the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States (US).

However, the operation was halted after a container ship, the Ever Lovely, was struck while passing through the strait near Oman. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez confirmed the vessel was not part of the evacuation programme. “We’re still investigating what happened,” Dominguez said, adding the ship had not followed established coordination procedures.

The incident has exposed ongoing uncertainty over safe navigation through the strait, despite a recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding intended to reopen the waterway.

Competing navigation arrangements remain in place, with Iran asserting authority over a northern corridor, while a southern route is coordinated by Oman and the US. The lack of clear guarantees has complicated evacuation efforts.

Dominguez said the immediate priority is restoring confidence in safe passage. “The key concern is the safety of vessels and seafarers,” he said.

Despite the pause, some maritime traffic continues through both corridors, although movements remain restricted and conditions are uncertain. The situation is further complicated by naval mines in central shipping lanes, preventing the use of established routes.

The IMO described the situation as a humanitarian emergency. At least 14 seafarers have been killed, and more than 40 commercial vessels have been attacked during the conflict.

Many crews have spent months stranded at sea, relying on external support for fuel, food and medical supplies. “Seafarers feel forgotten,” Dominguez said.

–UN/ChannelAfrica–