The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Mr. Arsenio Dominguez has urged States to support diplomatic efforts to secure the evacuation of around 20,000 seafarers still stranded in the Persian Gulf, and enable humanitarian corridors for urgent assistance.

During a virtual meeting for Foreign Ministers from more than 40 countries hosted by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary-General Dominguez called on all Parties to respect the rights and freedoms of navigation and stressed the paramount importance of the safety and wellbeing of seafarers.

He emphasized the need for de-escalation and operational maritime solutions rather than purely military approaches.

“Fragmented responses are no longer sufficient to resolve this crisis. What is urgently required is diplomatic engagement, practical and neutral solutions, and coordinated international action,” he said following the meeting.

“IMO is advancing a maritime evacuation framework built on coastal State cooperation, security guarantees and operational coordination, with the clear objective of releasing stranded vessels, enabling safe crew rotations and preventing an environmental disaster.”

IMO actions

Since the beginning of the conflict on 28 February 2026, IMO has confirmed 21 attacks on commercial shipping to date, resulting in the deaths of 10 seafarers with several more severely injured. Around 20,000 civilian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf, facing dwindling supplies, fatigue and severe psychological stress.

Following an extraordinary session of the IMO Council on 18-19 March 2026, IMO has undertaken key actions:

Safe passage for seafarers

Ongoing discussions are being held by the IMO Secretary-General and representatives from the relevant States on the development of a safe passage framework to evacuate seafarers currently stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Support from coastal States

IMO is engaging States in the region that have stepped forward to secure supply lines to ships and facilitate humanitarian access for seafarers. Focal point information is available on IMO’s dedicated webpage.

Data collection and verification

The IMO website features an online hub that includes verified information on ship attacks, guidance from key industry bodies and international partners, contacts for stranded seafarers, as well as resources related to the global economic impact.

Supporting industry coordination

IMO maintains close communication with industry bodies (BIMCO, ICS, ITF, INTERTANKO, WSC and others) to share information and coordinate action where necessary.

UN Task Force on Strait of Hormuz

IMO is a member of a new dedicated Task Force established by the UN Secretary-General to work on technical mechanisms specifically designed to meet humanitarian needs in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Task Force is led by Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and includes representatives from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and others, alongside IMO.