According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary‑General Arsenio Dominguez, roughly 20,000 crew members are still stuck because the Strait of Hormuz is almost completely closed. The disruption began when the war in the Middle East broke out in late February.
Unclear
In April, the IMO reported that around 2,000 ships were trapped in the region. The number of crew members has stayed the same, although the organisation has not explained why. Since the closure, Iran has allowed ships from friendly nations to pass. Some vessels have also left the area by switching off their navigation systems. The United States briefly carried out an operation to guide ships through the strait.
Plan-B
Several ships have now been unable to move for nearly ten weeks. Dominguez calls the stranded crew “innocent people” who are stuck because of geopolitical tensions beyond their control. The IMO is preparing an evacuation plan. Dominguez says it can only begin once there are clear signs of de‑escalation. The plan includes a system to determine which ships may leave first, ensuring an orderly and safe exit from the strait.
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