Attack in Strait of Hormuz halts evacuation plan for stranded ships

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The International Maritime Organization has paused its evacuation plan for ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz after a vessel that passed through the vital waterway was attacked on Thursday.

The UN agency did not identify the ship or who attacked it, in what is the latest test of an interim deal between the US and Iran to reopen the strait and extend a ceasefire between the two sides by 60 days.

Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards had earlier on Thursday said that co-ordination with its naval force was “mandatory” for vessels transiting the strait and warned ships against using any unauthorised routes.

“Certain authorities have announced a new route for ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz without informing or coordinating with the Islamic republic,” the force said in a statement, without identifying the authorities. “This route is unacceptable and completely dangerous.”

The IMO said the ship that was attacked did not transit the strait as part of its evacuation plan.

“I have been informed of an attack . . . in the Gulf of Oman on a vessel which passed through the Strait of Hormuz,” said Arsenio Dominguez, IMO secretary-general.

“I have always reiterated that the safety of the seafarers remains paramount. Therefore, to ensure a co-ordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.” 

UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a cargo vessel had been hit by an “unknown projectile” near the Omani coast. There were no casualties but mariners were advised to transit the region “with caution”.

The vessel is the Singaporean-flagged container ship Ever Lovely, owned by shipping line Evergreen, according to two people familiar with the situation. Evergreen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under a memorandum of understanding the US and Iran signed this month, the Islamic republic committed to gradually reopen the strait while mines are cleared during the first 30 days of the ceasefire extension.

Reopening the strait is a key priority for President Donald Trump as he seeks to ease a global energy crisis triggered by the war that the US and Israel launched against in late February.

The IMO on Tuesday said that after “discussions with all parties” it had established a safe evacuation corridor hugging the Omani coast for ships that had been stuck in the Gulf for more than 100 days.

But at least four tankers were turned back by Iran while attempting to exit the strait on Thursday, as Tehran appeared to challenge the evacuation route.

The Blue Star I, SG Pegasus, Azumasan and Omega Trader either made a U-turn or changed course from the IMO’s route on Thursday, according to ship tracking data. Analysts said the diversions were likely to have been made after instructions from the Revolutionary Guards.

Traffic through the strait remains well below pre-conflict levels of around 135 vessels per day. During the conflict, Iran stipulated that ships pass along its coast in the north of the strait.

Tehran has attempted to establish its own regime to control the strait, saying ships must seek permits from its Persian Gulf Strait Authority, set up in May.

During the 60-day ceasefire extension, Tehran has agreed not to charge ships fees, but has insisted it plans to do so in the future.

Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, said the Revolutionary Guards were likely to be “really miffed” with Oman for apparently siding with the US by agreeing the IMO route along the southern reaches of the strait.

Oman, whose territorial waters run through the strait, insists it is playing a neutral role. It has been holding discussions with Iran on the waterway’s future status, including on the topic of potential fees for environmental maintenance and pilotage through the waterway.

Of the ships that exited the Gulf via the strait on Wednesday, 15 took the Iranian route out, while 26 took the Omani one, according to data from maritime intelligence company Windward.

Ambrey, a maritime intelligence agency, said on Thursday that a Panama-flagged tanker had been “instructed to divert course” while transiting the strait en route to Pakistan.

The Revolutionary Guards had told the vessel to divert to its preferred route “north of Larak Island” and to stop there and “wait for permission”, Ambrey added.

The vessel, which Ambrey did not name, was told it was in range of Iranian missiles and could be fired on, the agency said. Both the SG Pegasus and Omega Trader are Panama-flagged ships.

The threats underscore the “fragile conditions” in the strait and will “knock nascent confidence among shipowners and marine insurers about transit safety and security”, said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, analyst at Windward.

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority did not respond to a request for comment on how many ships had applied for Iranian permits.

Cartography by Steven Bernard. Additional reporting by Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran