The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council has directed member states to urgently establish a safe maritime framework to facilitate the safe evacuation of merchant vessels and seafarers currently confined within the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Council also strongly condemned the threats and attacks against vessels, seafarers and the purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, in line with the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2817, which have adversely affected merchant and commercial vessels and threatened the safety and welfare of seafarers.

This was stated during the IMO Council two-day extraordinary session in London, to discuss the situation in the Middle East and its impact on shipping and seafarers.

The Guardian learnt that Nigerian and other African countries’ seafarers are also affected and stranded on the vessels hit.

The Council directed the immediate seizure of all attacks on ships affecting civilian seafarers and called upon the over 120 Member States, including Nigeria, to ensure the continuous provision of water, food, fuel and other essential supplies to seafarers and ships currently unable to leave the region.

IMO Council also urged member states to ensure that seafarers’ communication with their families and friends can be maintained and that stores and provisions remain adequate for their needs.

In his address at the session, the IMO Secretary-General, Mr Arsenio Dominguez, stressed the need to uphold fundamental principles guiding global shipping, including respect for freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers.

He stressed that seafarers and commercial vessels must never become collateral victims of geopolitical conflicts, while emphasising dialogue and diplomacy as critical tools for de-escalation and restoring stability in the region.

Dominguez noted that participants at the session had taken firm positions on key issues affecting maritime security, which include condemning threats and attacks on merchant vessels, reaffirming the right of ships to navigate freely, and calling for restraint among nations involved in ongoing tensions.

The IMO chief also highlighted the collective demand for an immediate halt to attacks on seafarers and renewed commitments to safeguard their welfare and wellbeing.

The Council further confirmed the need to exercise navigational rights and freedoms of vessels, to encourage restraint and de-escalation, called for the preservation of the safety, welfare and well-being of seafarers, as well as to commit to the provision of essential supplies to the vessels in the region; and to facilitate crew change for seafarers.

“I am ready to start working immediately in negotiations to establish a humanitarian corridor to evacuate all vessels and seafarers trapped. However, for this to materialise, I will need the understanding, commitment and above all, the concrete actions from the countries involved. I will also involve the interested parties, including as well as relevant UN agencies,” he said.