IMO chief orders states to enforce SOLAS rules in Strait of Hormuz

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez is demanding that member states crack down on substandard and “fraudulently registered” vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a shift toward aggressive enforcement against shadow fleet tactics.

Dominguez reported too many cases of ships transiting the Strait without complying with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). He specifically identified vessels covering their IMO numbers, using false flags, and operating with fraudulent registrations.

The Secretary-General urged shipowners and operators to refrain from commercial activities in the area that expose seafarers to “unacceptable risks.” He called on flag, port, and coastal states to use their legal jurisdictions to address these violations and restore a recognized framework for navigation.

Why it matters

The IMO is targeting the specific operational methods used by the shadow fleet to bypass international oversight. By naming “false flags” and “covered IMO numbers,” Dominguez is pressuring states to move beyond rhetoric and use their legal jurisdiction to detain non-compliant vessels. For legitimate owners, this likely means more rigorous inspections and documentation checks as regional authorities respond to the IMO’s call.

The warning to refrain from activities involving “unacceptable risks” creates a potential liability risk for shipowners and charterers. If an incident occurs during a transit the IMO has labeled an “unacceptable risk,” it raises questions about the defensibility of those commercial choices in legal or insurance disputes. The IMO is signaling that current unsafe practices are a direct threat to the international framework of navigation.

This directive also places a burden on flag states that have historically been lax in monitoring their registries. If these states fail to act on the Secretary-General’s call, they risk further delegitimizing their flags in the eyes of port state authorities and international regulators who are now tasked with tackling the root causes of the conflict.

What to watch

Watch for a rise in Port State Control detentions in regional hubs as states are pressured to verify the registration and safety equipment of vessels transiting the Strait.

Source: IMO