IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez warned that safe passage cannot be assumed in the Strait of Hormuz as security risks remain high despite claims of rising vessel traffic.
IMO has approved new safety guidelines for ammonia-fueled gas carriers, giving shipowners and designers clearer direction on safe onboard handling.
Black carbon emissions from ships operating in Arctic waters continued to increase as vessel traffic expanded and northern routes gained attention, raising questions over whether current regulatory timelines are keeping pace with environmental change.
The IMO Net Zero Framework survived MEPC 84, with a majority of member states reaffirming it as the basis for further work.
IMO has proposed a voluntary framework for the safe departure of merchant ships confined in the Persian Gulf, subject to agreement by conflict parties and the removal of threats to navigation.
The United States has formally urged the IMO to end consideration of the Net-Zero Framework, reject carbon pricing measures and shift toward alternative shipping emissions proposals.
The International Maritime Organization said about 3,200 ships carrying around 20,000 seafarers are confined west of the Strait of Hormuz ahead of an emergency council meeting in London on 18–19 March 2026 as attacks on merchant vessels continue across the Gulf region.
The IMO has urged shipping companies to put crew safety first after attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz caused seafarer casualties. The agency also warned operators to use only confirmed information when making navigational decisions in the high-risk corridor.
ITF data shows seafarer abandonment hit record levels in 2025: 6,223 seafarers across 410 ships, with $25.8 million owed and FOCs dominating cases.
