Efforts Underway for Safe Evacuation of Vessels in Strait of Hormuz

In this interview, Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, provides an update on the critical situation in the Strait of Hormuz. He reports that vessel transit numbers have increased from around 7 vessels per day to approximately 30 vessels daily (as of Friday and Saturday), though this remains well below the normal 130 vessels per day average. Most transiting vessels are using either Iran's temporarily established traffic separation scheme or routing through Omani waters.

Dominguez explains that the IMO has been heavily engaged with Oman and the United States to establish notices to Mariners and coordinate safe evacuation procedures. He notes discrepancies in vessel counts (IMO records show 30 merchant vessels versus CENTCOM estimates of 55), attributing this to differences in what types of vessels are being counted—the IMO focuses on IMO-numbered merchant vessels while CENTCOM may include military vessels. He indicates that vessels are being instructed to turn off navigation systems when using designated evacuation routes through Omani waters.

Regarding the scale of the evacuation challenge, Dominguez identifies approximately 550-600 merchant vessels requiring evacuation, with around 11,000 seafarers out of a total of 20,000 in the region who abnormally transit the strait. The deliberate limiting of transit numbers is intentional to avoid collisions during the evacuation process.

When addressing the controversial topic of tolls and fees on the waterway, Dominguez firmly states that the IMO's position is that international law provides no fundamental basis for countries to impose tolls or fees on international straits. He indicates the organization is exploring voluntary mechanisms within international law for managing heavily-transited routes, citing successful precedents in Southeast Asia, but emphasizes any approach must align with international conventions.

Finally, regarding mines in the strait, Dominguez explains that risk information is based on the IMO's 1968 traffic separation scheme. He notes that Iran has announced intentions to demine areas and that other countries are prepared to provide assets to ensure the waterway is cleared before normal navigation resumes.