Following an attack on a container ship departing the Persian Gulf and transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended the operation to evacuate ships from the region.
According to sea-news.az the Singapore-flagged container ship “Ever Lovely,” owned by “Evergreen Marine,” was struck by an unidentified projectile near the coast of Oman, at the exit of the Strait of Hormuz. Although the ship’s navigation bridge was damaged during the attack, there were no casualties, and the vessel was able to continue its voyage.
Prior to the incident, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had issued a warning that vessels must navigate only through the northern route under their control.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the implementation of the evacuation plan has been temporarily suspended to re-evaluate security guarantees for vessels in the region.
Nevertheless, shipping companies “Maersk” and “Hapag-Lloyd” have announced that their vessels waiting in the Persian Gulf have safely departed the area. “Maersk” stated that three of its vessels remain in the Gulf, while “Hapag-Lloyd” reported that all its affected vessels have already exited the region.
According to the IMO, as part of the evacuation operation launched jointly with Oman on June 23, 57 ships and approximately 1,100 seafarers have been safely evacuated from the region so far.
