Hormuz Attacks Pose Grave Danger to Life, Threaten Global Shipping and Energy Supply Chains: IMO Council Demands De-Escalation

The International Maritime Organization Council, meeting in its 36th extraordinary session on March 18–19, 2026 in London under Chair Victor Jiménez of Spain, warned that escalating attacks in the Arabian Sea, Sea of Oman and Gulf region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, pose a “grave danger to life,” threaten global shipping, and risk destabilizing energy and humanitarian supply chains, as it condemned “egregious attacks” on vessels and demanded immediate de-escalation and restraint.

IMO condemns attacks on shipping, calls for safe-passage framework in Strait of Hormuz; Via: IMO

In a detailed declaration, the Council said attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and threats to close Hormuz “represent a serious threat to international peace and security,” stressing that “the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms… must be respected,” while recalling United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which condemns actions interfering with maritime navigation and affirms that obstructing transit through key waterways violates international law.

The session—convened urgently at the request of member states with procedural rules waived to fast-track deliberations—brought together members, observers and industry bodies to assess the impact of the crisis on shipping and seafarers, with the Council expressing condolences for those killed in attacks and warning that “seafarers… should not be collateral victims of conflict,” while urging all parties to halt attacks on ships “affecting innocent civilian seafarers.”

Highlighting worsening operational risks, the Council flagged challenges including vessels stranded in high-risk zones, disrupted logistics, and “extensive jamming and spoofing” of navigation systems, calling for coordinated international action to ensure safety, maintain crew welfare, and secure essential supplies such as water, fuel and food for ships unable to exit the region.

The IMO further pushed for immediate practical measures, encouraging the creation of a “safe maritime corridor” to enable the evacuation of merchant vessels from high-risk areas, and urging member states to facilitate crew changes and maintain communication for seafarers facing prolonged confinement under escalating threats.

While reaffirming its mandate to ensure “safe, secure and environmentally sound shipping,” the Council also requested IMO committees to intensify efforts to support affected vessels and crews, and tasked the Secretariat with continuously updating member states on conditions in and around Hormuz, even as some delegations flagged concerns over the balance of the declaration’s language.

The emergency session shows how the ongoing West Asia conflict has moved beyond military confrontation into a full-scale maritime security crisis, with global trade, energy flows and the safety of thousands of seafarers now directly tied to the stability of one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.

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