The International Maritime Organization has called on shipping companies to place crew safety first after attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz left at least one seafarer dead and several others injured.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the incidents show the danger facing civilian mariners operating in waters affected by geopolitical tension. He said commercial ships and their crews must not be exposed to violence under any circumstances.
The organization said it is following the situation closely and urged operators to keep safety at the center of transit planning. Where there is room to do so, companies were advised not to send ships into the affected area until conditions become more stable.
For vessels that still need to pass through the region, the IMO urged operators to maintain a higher level of alert and to track developments carefully throughout the voyage.
The warning carries wider weight for the shipping market because the Strait of Hormuz remains a key route for global energy cargo movements. Any disruption in the corridor can quickly affect owners, charterers and cargo interests.
Dominguez also warned the industry against acting on misleading information during periods of heightened tension. He said navigational decisions should be made using confirmed information from authoritative channels.
The IMO said it is continuing to work with member states and maritime partners to support safe navigation and to uphold the principle that civilian seafarers must not be targeted during conflict.
