International Maritime Organization (IMO) has hit pause on its evacuation plan for Strait of Hormuz after a cargo vessel was attacked in Gulf of Oman. Happened Thursday. A Singapore-flagged container ship,the Ever Lovely,reported a hit on starboard side by a projectile about 14 kilometers southeast of Oman’s Dahit port,UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said .
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez announced the halt. The plan was to help around 600 ships,11,000 mariners stuck because of US-Israeli war on Iran. Dominguez stressed need to reconfirm vessel safety in region,stating,“I have decided to temporarily pause [the evacuation plan’s] implementation.” Said safety was checked before starting, but attack changed things .
Ever Lovely wasn't in IMO's evacuation scope. Reports suggest another ship might’ve been hit by a drone,though who did it is unknown . Attack came as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned ships against using strait without Tehran's nod. Earlier Thursday,IRGC told two Panama-flagged ships to change course, showing tensions running high.
After attack, Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), set up by Iran to manage Strait of Hormuz, declared ships outside its routes won't get safe passage guarantees. PGSA said any fallout from unauthorized navigation falls on vessel's owner,operator,commander.
IMO's evacuation started after Iran effectively shut strait, stranding many vessels since conflict began February 28. MarineTraffic noted a slow return to navigation,with 70 crossings Wednesday,31 Tuesday,compared to pre-war 120 vessels daily. Operators still wary of usual traffic.
Oman’s Defence Ministry said evacuation will be phased, citing risk of collisions now . Denmark joined international maritime mission, led by France,UK, to reopen the crucial waterway .
Tensions stay high in Strait of Hormuz,with maritime security firms watching closely. IMO pausing evacuation shows fragile state of navigation here, as ships move through conflict,uncertainty…
