Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Uncertainty persists over safety in the Strait of Hormuz following recent attacks on commercial vessels, prompting calls for maximum caution. The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) is verifying reports of incidents, including a tanker reportedly struck by an unknown projectile near Fujairah and a bulk carrier attacked near Iran, according to UKMTO. Vessels have been instructed to vacate anchorages due to the volatile security situation in the area.
Since late February, at least 41 incidents involving vessels in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman have been reported. Affected tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships are crucial to international trade. About 800 such vessels, often transporting vital energy supplies and commodities, could be subject to contingency evacuation plans, potentially impacting approximately 20,000 seafarers, based on crew averages cited by the IMO.
The IMO highlighted the risks facing seafarers, including threats from missile attacks, falling debris, and shortages of essentials such as food and water. Despite some crew repatriations, tens of thousands of seafarers remain at sea in a region where the maritime fleet totals nearly 3,000 vessels. The agency warned that naval escorts alone are not a sustainable solution and called for de-escalation and a long-term agreement to ensure safe navigation.