International Maritime Organization Logs About 30 Attacks, Warns Against Strait of Hormuz Transit
Key Facts
International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez warned against transiting the Strait of Hormuz, saying on November 3 that the organization did not recommend ships use it because there was no confirmation the area was free of mines and it could not guarantee safe passage. The warning comes as shipping faces unresolved security risks and the organization says it lacks sufficient information to confirm the passageways are free of mines. "That is why we do not recommend anyone transit the Strait of Hormuz," Dominguez said. The organization’s position puts crew safety first as some ships continue to transit via alternative routes. In a statement issued by the organization on June 9, the secretary-general said safe passage could not be considered available without credible security guarantees, and called for seafarers’ safety to be prioritized.
Dominguez said the organization recorded about 30 attacks on ships in the strait and surrounding waters during October 2026, and that some incidents caused oil spills or other forms of pollution. The incidents, he said, show that the risks extend beyond the safety of ships and their crews to include environmental damage from some attacks. He said ships had been struck by unidentified projectiles, while the nature of some incidents could not be determined during the conflict. Possibilities still under investigation included mines, drones and missiles, without Dominguez assigning responsibility for the incidents. He also said active fighting was impeding the investigations needed to determine what struck the ships.
The security situation is also affecting ship crews in the area. Dominguez said on November 2 that about 6,000 seafarers remained aboard roughly 350 to 400 ships in the Gulf region. The organization, in coordination with countries in the region, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and other parties, is working to provide supplies, medical care and psychological support to seafarers. The assistance also includes helping them stay in contact with their families, according to Dominguez. These efforts highlight the humanitarian dimension of the crisis for seafarers who have remained aboard ships, alongside the direct risks to navigation. As of November 3, 2026, confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East totaled 128, while the organization recorded 24 confirmed seafarer deaths.
The disruption of the maritime traffic separation scheme established by the organization is further complicating passage through the strait. Dominguez said the scheme was not currently in use, the organization had not approved the alternative arrangements used by ships, and it could not guarantee safe passage under them. The report said some transiting ships were taking a northern route through Iranian waters under Iran’s control, while others were using a southern route near the Omani coast, accompanied by the U.S. Navy. According to the organization’s position, these routes do not mean the usual navigation system has been restored or that an international safety guarantee is in place. Uncertainty over mines persists despite conflicting official accounts.
Coverage said Iran had repeatedly said ships were hit by mines after entering routes it described as unauthorized, while U.S. Central Command denied those accounts and said it had removed mines from international shipping lanes in the strait. The conflicting accounts leave the issue of mines disputed, while the organization’s warning is based on the lack of confirmation that they are absent and its inability to guarantee passage. In his opening remarks at the organization’s 138th Council session on November 2, Dominguez said ongoing conflicts continued to inflict losses on shipping and seafarers in multiple regions. The session is being held at the organization’s headquarters in London from November 2 to 6, 2026, and the Council included the protection of vital shipping lanes among the main items on its agenda. Discussions cover the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Red Sea.