IMO Calls for Practical Solutions to Restore Hormuz Navigation | Mariner News
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has issued a fresh call for “practical solutions” to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, six months after the conflict in the Middle East began. The situation in the critical waterway remains unresolved, with Dominguez emphasizing the “grave” short- and long-term impacts on global shipping.
Since the conflict’s onset, up to 400 ships carrying approximately 6,000 seafarers have been unable to safely depart the Persian Gulf, although some vessels and crews have managed to leave. The IMO has verified at least 70 attacks on international shipping within the period, resulting in 19 seafarers killed. Thousands of seafarers continue to face heightened risk and uncertainty while working in the region.
The protracted disruption, despite a July resolution by the IMO Council reaffirming the right of transit passage and calling for unhindered navigation, underscores a persistent challenge in securing commercial shipping lanes. Dominguez’s renewed plea for “renewed political will and cooperation” suggests that the issue extends beyond legal affirmation, requiring concrete diplomatic and operational engagement from member states and the broader shipping industry, working with the IMO and UN system.
The ongoing uncertainty in Hormuz implies continued operational headaches for shipowners and charterers, including potential re-routing considerations, increased war risk premiums, and sustained logistical challenges for cargo movements through the Persian Gulf. The selective ability of some vessels to depart also points to a highly complex and potentially inconsistent risk environment, forcing ongoing, difficult operational decisions for those with assets or cargo in the region.
