The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, urged countries to support diplomatic efforts to secure the evacuation of some 20,000 seafarers still stranded in the Arabian Gulf, and to enable humanitarian corridors to provide urgent assistance.
During a virtual meeting of foreign ministers from more than 40 countries hosted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary-General Domínguez called on all parties to respect the rights and freedoms of navigation and stressed the paramount importance of the safety and well-being of seafarers.
He stressed the need to stop escalation and operational naval solutions instead of purely military methods.
He said after the meeting: “Fragmented responses are no longer sufficient to resolve this crisis. What is urgently needed is diplomatic engagement, practical and neutral solutions, and coordinated international action.”
“IMO is developing a framework for maritime evacuation built on coastal state cooperation, security assurances and operational coordination, with the clear aim of releasing stranded ships, enabling safe crew rotation and preventing an environmental disaster.”
IMO procedures
Since the start of the conflict on 28 February 2026, the IMO has confirmed 21 attacks on merchant ships so far, resulting in 10 sailors killed and several others seriously injured. There are still about 20,000 civilian seafarers on board ships in the Arabian Gulf, facing a lack of supplies, exhaustion and extreme psychological pressure.
Following the extraordinary session of the IMO Council on 18-19 March 2026, IMO took key actions:
Safe passage for sailors
Ongoing discussions are being held by the IMO Secretary-General and representatives of relevant countries on developing a safe passage framework for the evacuation of seafarers currently stranded in the Arabian Gulf.
Support from coastal countries
The International Maritime Organization is working to engage countries in the region that have come forward to secure supply lines for ships and facilitate humanitarian access to seafarers. Contact point information is available on the IMO’s dedicated web page.
Data collection and verification
The IMO website features an online hub that includes verified information on ship attacks, guidance from key industry bodies and international partners, contacts for stranded seafarers, as well as resources on the global economic impact.
Support industrial coordination
IMO maintains close contacts with industry bodies (BIMCO, ICS, ITF, INTERTANKO, WSC and others) to exchange information and coordinate actions when necessary.
United Nations Task Force on the Strait of Hormuz
IMO is a member of a new ad hoc working group established by the UN Secretary-General to work on technical mechanisms specifically designed to address humanitarian needs in the Strait of Hormuz.
The task force is chaired by Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and includes representatives of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and others, along with the International Maritime Organization.
Source: International Maritime Organization
