IMO pauses Strait of Hormuz evacuation after Ever Lovely vessel was attacked

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended its coordinated evacuation operation through the Strait of Hormuz after the Singapore-flagged containership Ever Lovely was struck by a suspected drone or projectile while transiting the southern shipping corridor on 25 June. The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

The IMO evacuation initiative, launched on 23 June, was designed to help hundreds of merchant vessels and thousands of seafarers stranded in the Gulf following months of regional conflict. Before the suspension, 57 vessels carrying around 1,100 seafarers had safely transited the Strait using temporary northbound and southbound routes coordinated with regional authorities. The attacked vessel was not participating in the IMO-led evacuation programme.

Although no casualties were reported, initial inspections indicated damage to the vessel's bridge area. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation was paused to reassess safety guarantees before additional ships are cleared to sail through the corridor.

The incident is expected to have immediate implications for the marine insurance market. War-risk underwriters are likely to maintain elevated premiums for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while insurers may impose stricter voyage risk assessments and require updated security measures before providing cover. Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs are also expected to closely monitor developments as shipowners evaluate crew safety and operational exposure in the region.

For shipowners and charterers, the suspension adds another layer of uncertainty to Gulf operations. Delays in vessel movements, higher insurance costs, increased security expenditure and longer voyage planning could place upward pressure on freight rates, particularly for tanker and container trades linked to the Middle East.

The IMO has indicated that the evacuation programme is expected to resume once security conditions allow. However, with commercial vessels including Ever Lovely and, subsequently, the tanker KIKU targeted within days, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the highest-risk trading corridors for global shipping, with insurers, ship managers and cargo owners closely watching every new development.