IMO Council to address security implications in the Strait of Hormuz
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will convene an Extraordinary Session of its Council, on 18–19 March, to examine the impact of recent developments in the Arabian Sea, Sea of Oman and the Gulf region on international shipping and seafarers.
The meeting will be chaired by Victor Jiménez and will focus particularly on safety and operational challenges in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The session, formally known as C/ES.36, was convened after several Council Member States requested urgent discussions on the situation and its implications for maritime transport and crew safety.
Ahead of the meeting, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez held briefings with industry organizations on 11 March and with Member States on 12 March to share updates and discuss the latest developments.
In a recent statement, Arsenio Dominguez reiterated that seafarers must not be targets, saying that it unacceptable and unsustainable, and that all parties and stakeholders have an obligation to take necessary measures to ensure the protection of seafarers, including their rights and well-being, and the freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law.
IMO recorder incidents and their impact on seafarer lives
| Date | Ship Name (IMO Number) | Location | Description |
| 12/3 | SOURCE BLESSING (IMO 9243198) | 35NM north of Jebel Ali, UAE | Damage. No pollution. No injuries. |
| 11/3 | ZEFYROS (IMO 9515917) | Near Khor Al Zubair Port, Iraq | Attack on SAFESEA VISHNU caused collateral damage (fire). No injuries. |
| 11/3 | SAFESEA VISHNU (IMO 9327009) | Near Khor Al Zubair Port, Iraq | Impact caused fire. One seafarer fatality. |
| 11/3 | STAR GWYNETH (IMO 9301031) | 50NM north-west of Dubai | Damage to cargo holds and forecastle. No injuries. |
| 11/3 | MAYUREE NAREE (IMO 9323649) | 11NM north of Oman | Fire on board. Three seafarers unaccounted for. |
| 11/3 | ONE MAJESTY (IMO 9424912) | 25NM north-west of Ra’s al Khaymah, UAE | Hull damage. No injuries. |
| 7/3 | ARABIA III (IMO 8771332) | Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia | One seafarer injured. |
| 6/3 | MUSSAFAH 2 (IMO 9522051) | 6NM north of Oman | Four seafarer fatalities. Three severely injured. |
| 5/3 | SONANGOL NAMIBE (IMO 9325049) | 30NM south east of Mubarak Al Kabeer, Kuwait | Hull breach. No injuries. |
| 4/3 | SAFEEN PRESTIGE (IMO 9593517) | 2NM north of Oman | Hull damage above waterline. No injuries. |
| 3/3 | GOLD OAK (IMO 9806342) | 7NM east of Fujairah, UAE | Steel plating damage. No injuries. |
| 3/3 | LIBRA TRADER (IMO 9562673) | 10NM east of Fujairah, UAE | Minor damage. No injuries. |
| 1/3 | STENA IMPERATIVE (IMO 9666077) | At Berth, Port of Bahrain | One shipyard worker fatality. Two shipyard workers seriously injured. |
| 1/3 | HERCULES STAR (IMO 9916135) | 17 NM NW of Mina Saqr, UAE | Fire on board. No injuries. |
| 1/3 | MKD VYOM (IMO 9284386) | 52 NM NW of Muscat, Oman | One seafarer fatality. |
| 1/3 | SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020) | 5 NM N of Khasab, Oman | Four seafarers injured. One seafarer fatality. One seafarer missing. |
In addition, approximately 20,000 seafarers are still stranded in the Persian Gulf, remaining on ships where they face elevated risk and significant psychological stress.
The IMO Council serves as the organization’s executive body and is composed of 40 Member States elected by the IMO Assembly. The upcoming session is expected to review current risks, exchange information among governments and industry stakeholders, and consider possible measures to support the safety and security of global shipping operations in the affected region.
Source: safety4sea.com
