UN Maritime Chief Warns 6,000 Seafarers Trapped Near Strait of Hormuz as Ship Attacks Mount

About 6,000 seafarers remain trapped near the Strait of Hormuz amid a wave of attacks on commercial ships, the United Nations’ top maritime official warned Sunday, telling vessels not to transit the waterway until safety guarantees are in place.

“The situation continues to be severe and critical when it comes to international shipping,” International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told Fox News Digital. “There is a double blockade and too many vessels have been attacked, particularly in recent days.”

Reports say 24 ships were attacked on the waterway over roughly two weeks, according to the Financial Times. “Seafarers have continued to perish in these attacks and around 6,000 seafarers remain trapped since the beginning of the conflict,” Dominguez said, adding that ships should not transit the strait or put seafarers at risk until guarantees are in place.

Iran’s Channel 16 complaint

Dominguez’s remarks followed an Oct. 9 letter to the IMO in which Iran alleged that the U.S. military used VHF Channel 16, an internationally designated maritime distress and safety channel, to intimidate Iranian crews in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s ambassador to the IMO, Seyed Ali Mousavi, submitted the complaint, which was circulated to member states the same day, according to a copy reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The letter said the channel “has been repeatedly occupied for prolonged periods by the United States military forces operating in the Persian Gulf,” and alleged that Iranian seafarers were addressed in Persian with threatening language and in some cases urged to abandon their vessels. The letter cited commercial vessels and shipping companies but provided no recordings or transcripts of the alleged exchanges. Fox News Digital said it could not independently verify the accusations.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command defended its enforcement of the naval blockade of Iranian ports. “The U.S. naval blockade has been in place for months and is professionally communicated to all international mariners,” CENTCOM said. “Vessels that refuse to comply with blockade enforcement receive multiple warnings, with ample opportunity to comply. American forces remain highly vigilant, focused, and professional while fully enforcing the naval blockade against Iran.”

Trapped crews and false flags

Dominguez said the IMO had recorded 100 confirmed maritime incidents across the region as of Oct. 9, with 24 seafarers killed since the conflict began on Feb. 28. He also warned that fraudulent ship registrations and false flags are adding to the danger, describing a rise in “fraudulent registries with false flags that are taking the risk and acting as shuttle tankers” to move goods in and out.

“Seafarers are not trained for combat, and they are not guilty of any conflicts that are happening around the world,” Dominguez said.

Iran asked the IMO to raise its allegations with member states and possibly with the International Telecommunication Union. Dominguez said the IMO could review its regulations to see whether stronger safeguards are needed, but he did not announce a formal investigation.

Diplomatic channels with Iran remain open, Dominguez said, though he has no direct contact with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “I have conversations with them and they respond to my messages,” he said of Iranian officials. “What is difficult is to get final decisions because of the conflict that is ongoing.”

Reporting based on coverage by Fox News Digital and the New York Post.