Watch | IMO says working on evacuation mechanism for trapped seafarers amid Gulf tensions

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is working to operationalise an evacuation mechanism for nearly 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz persist.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said the IMO Council has already agreed to establish a humanitarian framework and is now developing the operational details needed to implement it.

“The biggest concern… is those 20,000 innocent seafarers who are actually trapped,” he said, adding that discussions with member states in the region will be the next step to “make this a reality”.

Dominguez noted the IMO is in constant touch with shipowners, operators, flag states and the International Transport Workers’ Federation to monitor conditions. He flagged mental health and fatigue as key risks, saying crews are “in limbo” while continuing to operate vessels and manage supplies.

As the crisis drags on, Dominguez stressed, “we are not forgetting them,” adding efforts are underway with UN agencies and governments to prevent ships being targeted and to ensure seafarers are not treated as collateral damage.