IMO Suspends Gulf Evacuations Amid Renewed Security Threats In Hormuz

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has suspended its evacuation operation in the Strait of Hormuz following renewed security concerns triggered by an attack on a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

The development has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in the region despite the recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

Announcing the decision, IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, said the organization had already facilitated the evacuation of several vessels before deciding to temporarily halt the operation pending further assessment of the security situation.

According to Dominguez, the suspension is intended to allow the IMO and its partners to verify that adequate safety assurances remain in place before the evacuation exercise resumes.

“The safety of the seafarers remains paramount,” Dominguez said. “The evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.”

The decision followed an attack on a cargo vessel sailing southeast of Oman’s Port of Dahit. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the ship was struck by an unidentified projectile but was able to continue its voyage. No casualties or injuries were recorded.

Although Reuters, citing multiple sources, identified the vessel as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, neither the IMO nor the ship’s operator has officially confirmed the vessel’s identity.

The IMO clarified that the affected vessel was not operating under its evacuation framework.

The evacuation initiative, launched earlier this week, was designed to assist more than 11,000 seafarers and hundreds of merchant vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf since tensions escalated earlier this year.

Developed in collaboration with Iran, Oman, the United States, other regional coastal states and key players in the maritime industry, the evacuation framework established designated transit corridors to enable vessels to exit the Gulf safely.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned ships to operate strictly within routes approved by Iranian authorities, stating that vessels sailing outside the designated corridors would not be guaranteed safe passage.

The latest incident has renewed uncertainty for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic maritime trade routes. The attack also pushed oil prices higher as markets reacted to the renewed security risks in the region.