The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended its evacuation scheme for ships stranded in the Arabian Gulf after a Singapore-flagged container ship was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Gulf of Oman. The evacuation plan, launched earlier this week to facilitate the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, was halted following the incident involving the Ever Lovely.
The vessel was reportedly hit while sailing 7.5 nautical miles south-east of Dahit, Oman. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the ship was struck on its starboard side, causing damage to the bridge. The vessel’s master reported no injuries, no loss of seaworthiness and no environmental impact.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez confirmed that Ever Lovely was not transiting under the organisation’s evacuation framework. However, he said the incident had prompted the UN agency to pause the scheme while it sought fresh assurances over the safety of ships using the route.
“Following the launch of the IMO’s evacuation plan, through which several vessels have already been successfully evacuated, I have decided to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region,” Dominguez said.
“I have been informed of an attack today in the Gulf of Oman on a vessel which passed through the Strait of Hormuz. This vessel did not transit under IMO’s evacuation framework. I have always reiterated that the safety of seafarers remains paramount. Therefore, to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.” The attack came days after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian permission were doing so illegally.
Following the signing of the 60-day accord between the United States and Iran, two transit corridors reopened through the Strait of Hormuz: a northern route controlled by Iran and a southern corridor within Omani waters close to the country’s coastline. The usual traffic separation scheme (TSS) remains closed because of the potential threat posed by Iranian mines.