IMO Says 400 Ships and 6,000 Seafarers Cannot Leave the Persian Gulf

Six months into the US-Iran conflict over the Strait of Hormuz, the International Maritime Organization reported on August 28 that roughly 400 ships carrying around 6,000 seafarers remain unable to depart the Persian Gulf safely.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez confirmed that at least 70 attacks on commercial ships have been verified since the conflict began in February, with 19 seafarers killed. The number stranded peaked at about 20,000 crew aboard 2,000 ships before a short evacuation window in late June allowed approximately 136 ships and 2,900 crew members to leave. Attacks resumed shortly after that window closed.

The situation is complicated by conflicting safety signals. Trump announced in August that US forces had cleared all mines from the Strait, but the Joint Maritime Information Center separately warned that drifting and uncharted mines may still pose risks. Shipping companies have stayed out, waiting for firmer assurances before resuming transits.

A framework to reopen the Strait to commercial shipping was described by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister last week, though no formal agreement has been reached. Fuel, fertiliser and bulk commodity flows remain disrupted, with downstream effects on food and energy costs worldwide.

MarineRadar is tracking over 160 unique devices monitoring the Strait of Hormuz area in the past 48 hours.