IMO member states agree to work together on evacuation plan for Persian Gulf

As Nautilus works to support members affected by the Middle East conflict, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is taking the lead on evacuating the 20,000 civilian seafarers and 2,000 merchant vessels currently stranded in the Persian Gulf.

At an extraordinary session of the IMO Council on 18-19 March, member states agreed to develop a framework for the evacuation. A range of options will be considered, including military escorts for the vessels, but IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez confirmed at a press briefing that a ceasefire would be preferred.

The Council had already urged that all attacks on ships affecting innocent civilian seafarers be halted immediately.

The secretary-general also noted that safety of navigation would have to be considered as ships were evacuated through the Strait of Hormuz. He said that there could not be too many vessels in this limited space, and the fatigue of the crews after their challenging experiences should be taken into account during the evacuation process.

Until the evacuation can take place, the Council called upon member states to provide water, food, fuel and other essential supplies to ships currently unable to leave the region. Mr Dominguez stressed that seafarers' rights under the Maritime Labour Convention must be upheld.

Member states should also look at whether crew changes are possible, although Mr Dominguez acknowledged in the press briefing that it would be challenging to persuade seafarers to travel into the war zone to relieve their fatigued colleagues.

Coastal states in the Persian Gulf may need to be flexible with visas and embarkation arrangements in order to supply ships and relieve crews.

Mr Dominguez said that the IMO is doing everything within its power to keep seafarers safe and maritime traffic moving, and that he personally is bringing individual member states together to find operational solutions that would improve matters while the evacuation framework is being developed.

• There is further information for Nautilus members in our Guidance document about the Middle East conflict