The IMO has halted the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz under its evacuation plan after the container vessel was struck by an unknown projectile near Dahit, Oman. Although the IMO stated that the vessel was not transiting the strait under its evacuation framework, it has paused all passages to verify that safety assurances remain in place.
Maritime risk management firm Vanguard identified the vessel as Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely that was hit by an unknown projectile approximately 7.5 nautical miles off Dahit, Oman on 25 June. The UKMTO, the projectile struck the starboard side and caused damage to the bridge. The captain reported no injuries or environmental impact.
Ever Lovely is a 2015-built containership owned by Taiwan-based shipping company Evergreen. According to Marinetraffic navigation signal the vessel is currently “Underway using Engine” and is scheduled to arrive in Singapore port by 5 July.
The attack followed warnings from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that vessels without Iranian permission were transiting the waterway illegally.
Two routes through the strait were opened following the 60-day accord signed between the US and Iran. The northern route is controlled by Iranian forces, while the southern route runs close to the Omani coastline. The usual traffic separation scheme remains out of use due to Iranian sea mines.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the organization has paused the evacuation scheme for vessels through the strait to reaffirm that safety guarantees remain in place.
The IMO released a statement saying it had decided to pause the evacuation effort while noting that the vessel that was attacked “did not transit under IMO’s evacuation framework.” It said it had, however, temporarily paused its evacuation operation pending further clarity.
IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez released a statement saying it had “temporarily paused its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region.” He said they were working to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, and seeking further clarity.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had earlier said it rejected the IMO-Omani effort to move vessels and that the only safe route was under its control. A video circulating online recorded a message apparently from the IRGC telling ships that they would be responsible for the consequences if they took an alternate route, and unconfirmed reports have said several ships have turned back. The IMO canceled a briefing scheduled for Thursday, citing urgent developments.
The attack came after both Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed that they had been able to get vessels out of the Persian Gulf. Maersk said Maersk Baltimore (53,700 dwt) had departed. The 4,500 TEU vessel registered in Singapore was reported to be making its exit along with an unnamed vessel that is under a time-charter to Maersk. The company reported the transit followed a security assessment and was based on recommendations from security partners.
Maersk reports it has three additional vessels remaining in the Gulf. It said it would pursue one additional transit through the Strait of Hormuz. It also said that of the 47,000 containers it had bound for the Gulf region, 44,000 have been delivered. A further 3,000 are pending their final leg.
Hapag-Lloyd, in a statement to The Maritime Executive, confirmed that all Hapag-Lloyd vessels that were affected by the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz and had been waiting in the Persian Gulf to depart have since safely left the Gulf. It said for security reasons, it would not comment on individual vessel names, routings, or exact timings.
In April, Hapag-Lloyd had confirmed that one of its vessels had been able to exit. It said another was on a charter that had expired. It said it had four other vessels remaining in the region. Today, Hapag said two have departed, one further vessel was subchartered, and another vessel has taken up a service within the Persian Gulf.
The IMO, in an update, had said 57 ships and an estimated 1,100 seafarers had made the transit since it started the evacuation effort with Oman on June 23.
