International Maritime Organization: Escorting Ships Is Not a Long-Term Solution to the Hormuz Strait Crisis

March 20, 2026

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The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization Dominguez emphasized after the special meeting of the Council that naval escort cannot fully guarantee the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and ships are still at risk of attack. This is not a long-term plan to eliminate seafarers' pressure and risks. In response to the United States calling on its allies to participate in the escort and the refusal of many European countries to intervene militarily, the Council recommended the urgent establishment of a framework such as a maritime safety corridor to evacuate merchant ships in high-risk areas through peaceful and voluntary means. The article disclosed that since the U. S.-Israeli military operations, there have been attacks on merchant ships in the region, resulting in the death of at least 7 seafarers and serious injuries. At present, about 20000 seafarers are still trapped in the Persian Gulf. The International Maritime Organization believes that only when the conflict ends can shipping avoid falling victim to collateral damage.

　　Xinhua News Agency, London, March 19 (Reporter Gao Wencheng) International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Dominguez said on the 19th that naval escorts are not a long-term sustainable solution to the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Only when the conflict ends will shipping no longer become a collateral damage victim.

　　The 36th special session of the International Maritime Organization Council concluded on the same day at its headquarters in London, UK. Dominguez stated at the post-meeting press conference that naval escorts are not a 100% safe arrangement, as ships may still become targets of attacks and risks remain. This is not a solution that can completely eliminate the pressure and risks currently endured by seafarers.

　　Recently, U.S. President Trump has repeatedly urged European countries and other allies to participate in escorting the Strait of Hormuz and complained that some allies are "not enthusiastic" about assisting the United States. Currently, several European allies of the U.S. have explicitly ruled out the possibility of military involvement.

　　Regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the International Maritime Organization Council stated that considering the large number of stranded merchant ships, the Council encourages the establishment of a framework such as a maritime safety corridor as an urgent temporary measure to facilitate the evacuation of merchant ships from high-risk and affected areas to safe locations through peaceful means and on a voluntary basis.

　　According to data provided by the International Maritime Organization, since the large-scale military action launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, at least seven seafarers have died in incidents involving merchant ships attacked in the Strait of Hormuz region, with several others seriously injured. Currently, about 20,000 seafarers remain stranded on ships in the Persian Gulf.

The two major ports in the United States and West remained stable in February. Global supply chains are facing more uncertainty.

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International Maritime Organization: Escorting Ships Is Not a Long-Term Solution to the Hormuz Strait Crisis