The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended a humanitarian operation to evacuate stranded seafarers and cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The decision, announced on Thursday, 25 June 2026, follows a reported attack on a merchant ship near the coast of Oman earlier the same day.
Suspension Of Humanitarian Operation
The IMO had launched the evacuation plan on 23 June 2026, aiming to assist over 11,000 seafarers who have been trapped in the region since hostilities between the United States and Iran escalated in late February. Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the pause is necessary to verify that vital safety guarantees remain effective for those participating in the, often precarious, transit.
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.
Context Of Maritime Tensions
The incident involved the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely, which was struck on the starboard side by an unidentified projectile. While the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that the vessel sustained damage to its bridge, no crew casualties were reported, and the ship was not part of the official IMO-sanctioned evacuation route.
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) issued a warning via social media shortly after the attack, stating that vessels failing to utilise routes designated by Iranian authorities would not be covered by established safety guarantees. This assertion underscores the ongoing instability in the Strait, where competition over control of vital shipping lanes continues to complicate international efforts to allow safe passage for trapped crews.
Further developments await official safety assessments from the IMO and updates regarding the status of the evacuation corridors.