The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is behind efforts to create a framework for the establishment of a ‘safe corridor’ through the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate the evacuation of commercial ships and protect seafarers who have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since the beginning of the military conflict between Israel and the US and Iran.
It follows a two-day emergency meeting of the UN shipping body’s council in London to discuss the conflict, which has impacted approximately 20,000 seafarers on more than 2,000 ships, currently located west of the Strait.
However, very little detail was disclosed on how this ‘safe corridor’ would work in practice, such as how its boundaries should be defined and the mechanisms to be used to ensure its safety and recognition by all parties involved. Also, how soon can it be operational?
Moreover, initial comments from Iran’s delegate to the IMO have cast serious doubt on whether the Islamic Republic would cooperate towards creating a safe corridor.
