Strait of Hormuz Crisis Traps 6,000 Sailors as Ship Attacks Rise, UN Maritime Chief Says

Thousands of seafarers remain stuck near the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on commercial vessels intensify, the United Nations’ leading maritime official said Sunday. His warning followed Iran’s accusation that U.S. forces used an international emergency radio frequency to threaten civilian crews.

The alert came as reports indicated that 24 ships had been targeted in the waterway over an approximately two-week period, deepening concerns about maritime security in the region, according to Financial Times.

“The circumstances for international shipping remain severe and critical,” International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told News Media.

“There is effectively a double blockade, and far too many vessels have come under attack, especially in recent days.

“Seafarers have continued to lose their lives in these attacks, while about 6,000 remain stranded since the conflict began,” Dominguez said. He urged ships not to attempt passage through the Strait of Hormuz or expose crews to danger “until we have guarantees.”

Dominguez spoke after Iran sent an Oct. 9 letter to the IMO alleging that the U.S. military had used VHF Channel 16—a globally recognized maritime distress and safety frequency—to intimidate Iranian crews in the Persian Gulf.

“VHF Channel 16 has repeatedly been occupied for extended periods by U.S. military forces operating in the Persian Gulf,” the Iranian letter said.

“In those transmissions, Iranian seafarers were addressed in Persian with threatening, abusive and provocative remarks and, in some cases, were told to leave their vessels.”

U.S. Central Command, responding to News Media, defended its enforcement of the naval blockade targeting Iranian ports.

“The U.S. naval blockade has been active for months and is communicated to all international mariners in a professional manner,” CENTCOM said.

“Ships that do not comply with enforcement measures receive several warnings and sufficient opportunities to follow the instructions.

“U.S. forces remain vigilant, focused and professional as they fully enforce the naval blockade against Iran.”

Iran’s complaint was submitted by its ambassador to the IMO, Seyed Ali Mousavi, and distributed to member states on Oct. 9, according to a copy reviewed by News Media.

Tehran further alleged that U.S. forces had transformed the maritime safety frequency into an “instrument of military intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews.”

The complaint referred to commercial ships, shipping companies and maritime operators but included no audio recordings, transcripts or precise accounts of the alleged communications. News Media was unable to independently confirm Iran’s claims.

“Seafarers are not trained to fight, and they are not responsible for the conflicts unfolding across the world,” Dominguez said.

“We have witnessed similar situations in other parts of the world, where Channel 16— which was never intended for this type of exchange—begins carrying messages that can be understood as threatening or that fall outside the purpose for which the channel was established.”

Iran also asked the IMO to raise its allegations with member states and relevant international organizations, potentially including the International Telecommunication Union.

Dominguez said the IMO could review its regulations and procedures to determine whether stronger safeguards are needed, though he did not announce a formal investigation.

“Our role here at IMO is that when those situations take place, we will then look into any technical measures or any operational aspects that we may need to clarify further within our regulatory framework,” he said, stressing that member states have equal rights to raise concerns, regardless of the conflict.

“We have a responsibility, and I have a duty as well, to circulate letters and notes that the countries actually put forward when they’re also being affected.”

“We take all that information, meet at the level of different meetings of the organization and have the discussions,” Dominguez added.

“If it’s demonstrated that we probably need to improve our rules in order to avoid communications issues, or that we need to enhance the knowledge of how these channels should be used, that is a role for us.”

The IMO had recorded 100 confirmed maritime incidents across the region as of Oct. 9, with 24 seafarers killed since the conflict began Feb. 28. Dominguez also warned that fraudulent ship registrations and false flags have become major contributors to the danger.

“What we’ve also seen right now is an increase in fraudulent registries with false flags that are taking the risk and acting as shuttle tankers in order to bring goods in and out,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons that we’re seeing an escalation.

“And it’s the irresponsible shipowners that are taking the risk in order to actually be able to trade and move some of the goods and the cargoes.”

“For me, any single case, any vessel that is attacked, any life of a seafarer that is lost, is a critical situation for me, because they are all relevant, they are all important.”

Despite the confrontation, Dominguez said diplomatic channels with Iran remain open, though he has no direct contact with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“I have communications with all the member states of IMO, and that includes the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.

“Of course, that’s through the diplomatic channels. I don’t have direct contact with the IRGC.

“I have conversations with them and they respond to my messages. You know, the information flows. What is difficult is to get final decisions because of the conflict that is ongoing.”

News Media has reached out to the Iranian embassy for comment.