The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended its evacuation operation in the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo vessel came under attack in the Gulf of Oman.
The move raises fresh concerns over maritime security despite the recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the organization had already evacuated several vessels before deciding to pause the operation.
He said the IMO wants to verify that the necessary safety guarantees remain in place before continuing the evacuations.
“The safety of the seafarers remains paramount,” Dominguez said. “The evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.”
The decision followed an attack on a cargo vessel sailing southeast of Oman’s Port of Dahit.
According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile but continued its voyage. No injuries were reported.
Reuters, citing multiple sources, identified the vessel as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely. Neither the IMO nor the ship’s operator has officially confirmed the vessel’s identity.
The IMO also confirmed that the vessel was not operating under its evacuation framework.
The organization launched the evacuation operation earlier this week to help more than 11,000 seafarers and hundreds of merchant vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began earlier this year.
The evacuation plan was developed in cooperation with Iran, Oman, the United States, other regional coastal states and the maritime industry. It established designated transit routes to allow vessels to leave the Gulf safely.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned ships to use only routes approved by Iranian authorities. It said vessels sailing outside those corridors would not be guaranteed safe passage.
The latest incident has renewed uncertainty for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. Oil prices also moved higher following the reported attack as markets reacted to the renewed security risks in the region.
