IMO Halts Strait of Hormuz Rescue Plan Amid Security Concerns

Tehran. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) under the United Nations has temporarily suspended the rescue plan for more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The plan has been halted considering the security situation after an attack on a cargo ship passing through the Strait.

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO, stated that although sailors have been successfully rescued from some ships, further rescue operations will not proceed until the necessary security is ensured. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime security agency of Britain, a ship located about 7.5 nautical miles southeast of the port of Duqm in Oman was attacked by an unknown projectile. However, there were no casualties in the incident.

According to the maritime risk management company Vanguard, the cargo ship named Ever Lovely, flying the Singapore flag, was able to continue its journey even after the attack. US media outlets, quoting US officials, have claimed that Iran fired upon the ship. Iran has also warned that ships traveling outside the designated route of the Strait will not be guaranteed safe passage.

In a statement issued through social media, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) stated that the ship's owners, operators, and captain will be responsible for any consequences faced by ships traveling outside the official route.

Due to the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran that began on February 28, hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors have been stranded in the Gulf region. The IMO had announced on Tuesday that it would start the rescue campaign only after the Strait becomes operational again. rescue campaign

According to the IMO, the Ever Lovely ship, which was attacked, was not traveling under the organization's official rescue framework. Earlier, according to a 14-point agreement between the US and Iran, Iran had committed to assisting in the safe passage of commercial ships for 60 days. However, Iran has been stating its plan to collect 'maritime service fees' from ships using the strait.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, and no country can impose fees for passage there. He is currently on a visit to the Gulf region.