Ship Attack Off Oman Derails IMO’s Hormuz Evacuation Effort

The International Maritime Organization has suspended its coordinated evacuation of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf after a merchant vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, dealing a setback to international efforts to evacuate thousands of seafarers stranded by the conflict.

The decision comes just one day after the IMO began coordinating the phased movement of hundreds of merchant vessels and more than 11,000 seafarers trapped in the region following months of conflict.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation has been paused while the organization reassesses whether sufficient safety guarantees remain in place for participating vessels.

“Following the launch of the IMO’s evacuation plan, through which several vessels have already been successfully evacuated, I have decided to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region,” Dominguez said.

The decision follows Thursday’s attack on a Singapore-flagged containership after it transited the Strait of Hormuz. According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel was struck on its starboard side by an unknown projectile approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman, damaging the bridge. The ship’s master reported no casualties or environmental impact.

Dominguez emphasized that the attacked vessel was not participating in the IMO-led evacuation.

“I have been informed of an attack today in the Gulf of Oman on a vessel which passed through the Strait of Hormuz. This vessel did not transit under IMO’s evacuation framework,” he said.

“I have always reiterated that the safety of the seafarers remains paramount. Therefore, to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.”

The suspension has now been formally communicated to the industry through UK Maritime Trade Operations, which issued an advisory confirming that the IMO-supported vessel movement process is “paused until further notice.”

UKMTO said it will not notify vessels regarding inclusion in IMO planning batches while the suspension remains in effect and urged operators to continue monitoring IMO communications, coastal state guidance, Notices to Mariners, and the latest Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) security assessments before undertaking voyages.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) appeared to reinforce its claim over Strait of Hormuz transit procedures Thursday, warning that ships using routes outside its designated framework would not be covered by “safe passage guarantees” or insurance-related protections. “Any passage through routes outside the framework designated by PGSA will not be covered by safe passage guarantees and will not be entitled to insurance coverage or related liabilities,” PGSA said in a statement posted to X.

The agency added that any consequences from using unauthorized routes would fall on the “owner, operator, and vessel commander.”

The attack also drew concern from shipping industry groups that had supported the IMO’s phased reopening of the Strait.

“BIMCO is deeply concerned with the recent attack on a merchant ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz using the inshore traffic zone off Oman,” said Jakob Larsen, BIMCO’s Chief Safety & Security Officer.