IMO Halts Strait of Hormuz Evacuation After Vessel Incident

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has suspended its evacuation plan for over 11,000 sailors in the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a passing cargo ship. Initial evacuations proceeded before concerns over continuing 'necessary safety guarantees' emerged. The British maritime security agency reported that a vessel was hit by an 'unknown projectile' near Oman's port of Dahit, although no casualties occurred.

The affected vessel, the Ever Lovely, registered in Singapore and operated by Evergreen, sustained only minor damage and reported its crew and cargo safe. The incident followed a warning from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against using a designated IMO route, labeling such navigation 'unacceptable and completely dangerous.' U.S. officials attributed the attack to Iranian forces.

In light of these developments, IMO Chief Arsenio Dominguez announced a pause in the evacuation, emphasizing the primacy of seafarer safety. This decision temporarily halts the large-scale operation initiated after the reopening of the strait, which had seen coordination between Iran, Oman, the U.S., and other regional stakeholders. The recent attack underscores ongoing navigational risks and challenges in the geopolitically sensitive strait.