No commercial justification for risking seafarers’ lives, says Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Dominguez has warned shipowners and masters that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be treated as safe for commercial transit and that thorough and realistic risk assessments must be conducted regarding the voyage planning.
The IMO secretary-general said he was “increasingly concerned” by reports that vessels continue to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any credible security guarantees, despite well‑established risks and the fact that seafarers have already been killed, injured and others detained in recent incidents.
“The current situation remains highly volatile, with no reliable security assurances in place. Under such circumstances, safe passage cannot be considered to exist,” he said.
The IMO chief said responsibility for voyage planning rests with the master and the company, which must conduct “thorough and realistic risk assessments” under established safety and security management frameworks.
As he stressed, no commercial or operational consideration can justify exposing seafarers to such levels of danger, adding that the protection of their lives must remain the overriding priority at all times.
Dominguez urged all stakeholders to act with the highest level of responsibility and reiterated his call on all parties to refrain from any actions that place innocent civilian seafarers at risk.
IMO said around 20,000 seafarers, as well as port workers and offshore crews, are impacted in the region.
