The United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has suspended the planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was attacked. IMO chief Arsenio Dominguez stated that while some boats had been evacuated, safety guarantees needed to be ensured.
The British maritime security agency UKMTO reported that a ship was struck by an unknown projectile 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit. No casualties were reported, and the ship's owner indicated that limited damage occurred, allowing it to safely transit the strait.
US officials, citing media reports, claimed that Iran fired on the vessel. The attack followed warnings from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that crossing the strait along routes designated by the IMO would be “unacceptable and completely dangerous.”
The affected ship, the Ever Lovely, a Singapore-flagged vessel, was reportedly following the UKMTO's recommended route when it was struck. Evergreen, the ship's owner, confirmed that all crew members and cargo remained safe.
Dominguez emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to ensure navigational safety, stating that the evacuation plan would be paused until further clarity is obtained. Hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors have been stranded in the Gulf since February due to ongoing conflicts involving the US and Israel against Iran.
The UN evacuation effort was announced following the reopening of the strait, with cooperation from Iran, Oman, the US, and other regional states. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned that vessels passing outside designated routes would not be guaranteed safe passage.
Despite a recent agreement between the US and Iran to end hostilities, Tehran has indicated plans to impose maritime service fees for crossing the strait, which the US opposes. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for oil and gas shipments, and tensions have previously caused spikes in global oil prices.
