About 6000 sailors near the Strait of Hormuz are in a dangerous situation due to the escalation of attacks on commercial ships. According to reports, in the past two weeks, 24 ships have been directly targeted, and safe passage in one of the world's most important maritime routes is not guaranteed.
Critical Situation for Sailors
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), warned on Sunday that conditions have become increasingly dangerous. He stated: "The situation remains severe and critical, and many ships, especially in recent days, have been attacked." According to IMO statistics, as of October 9, 100 maritime incidents in the area have been confirmed, and 24 sailors have lost their lives since the conflict began on February 28.
Safety Recommendations and Communication Issues
As thousands of sailors are still unable to leave the area safely, Dominguez has urged ships to refrain from passing through the Strait of Hormuz until adequate guarantees are provided. He emphasized: "Sailors continue to lose their lives in these attacks, and about 6000 sailors have been trapped in this region since the conflict began." In addition to physical threats, another issue has arisen regarding the misuse of VHF channel 16, which is designed for emergency maritime communications and safety. Iran has claimed that U.S. military forces have used this channel to threaten Iranian civilian sailors.
In a letter sent to IMO member states on October 9, Iran referred to the frequent use of this channel by U.S. military forces in the Persian Gulf and claimed that in these transmissions, Iranian sailors were addressed in Persian with threats and derogatory language.
Despite these claims, no evidence has been provided to substantiate them. While Iran has referred to information from commercial ships, it has not presented any specific evidence or examples of the alleged communications.
Meanwhile, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has defended the maritime blockade of Iranian ports, emphasizing that maritime operators have been properly informed and given sufficient opportunities to comply with blockade regulations.
As these conflicts continue, broader questions have arisen regarding the protection of maritime communication channels during military conflicts. Dominguez reminded that commercial sailors should not be considered participants in military conflicts and noted: "Sailors are not trained for battle and bear no guilt in global conflicts."
At the same time, another issue has complicated the situation. Dominguez stated that fraudulent ship registrations and vessels under false flags are increasingly on the rise, and some operators continue to transport cargo in this area despite the risks.
Despite the ongoing conflicts, diplomatic communication between the IMO and Iran has not been severed. Dominguez confirmed that he is in contact with Iranian representatives through official channels, although he does not have direct communication with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
