The International Maritime Organization says about 3,200 vessels carrying around 20,000 seafarers are currently confined west of the Strait of Hormuz, underlining the scale of disruption to global shipping as attacks on merchant vessels continue across the Gulf region.
The figures were disclosed in a briefing document issued ahead of the 36th Extraordinary Session of the IMO Council, scheduled for 18–19 March 2026 in London. Member states are set to review the deteriorating security situation affecting shipping in the Arabian Sea, Sea of Oman and Gulf region.
According to the IMO Secretariat, international shipping was hit immediately at the start of the crisis, with four confirmed attacks on merchant vessels reported on 1 March 2026. Those attacks resulted in the deaths of at least two seafarers and one port worker. Additional fatalities and serious injuries among merchant crews were reported in the following weeks.
The IMO said the ongoing violence has created conditions in which many vessels are unable to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important chokepoints for energy and commodity trade. As a result, thousands of ships are waiting west of the strait while companies and governments assess the risks of transit through waters exposed to missile, drone and explosive-boat attacks.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez issued statements on 1 March and 6 March condemning attacks on civilian shipping and urging all parties to respect international maritime law and freedom of navigation. He also called for de-escalation and stronger protection for merchant seafarers caught up in the conflict.
The IMO Secretariat has been coordinating with member states, shipowners, seafarer organizations and international agencies to track incidents and support affected crews. In meetings with governments and industry representatives in early March, Dominguez stressed the need for mental health support, communications capability and critical supplies for seafarers stranded aboard vessels in the region. The IMO is also working with the International Labour Organization to strengthen coordination on seafarer protection during the crisis.
In its briefing to member states, the IMO urged governments and ship operators to ensure that international maritime safety and security requirements under SOLAS and the ISPS Code remain fully implemented. It also encouraged shipping companies to follow Best Management Practices for Maritime Security in high-threat regions.
The IMO Council, made up of 40 member states elected by the IMO Assembly, serves as the organization’s executive body and can take urgent action on matters affecting global maritime safety and security.
