WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Amid claims and counter-claims of strikes and confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United States, UN maritime officials continue to urge vessels to exercise 'maximum caution'.
'We are aware of the reports but do not have further details. We continue to urge ships to practice maximum caution in the area,' the UN International Maritime Organization, or IMO, said, as it works to verify a series of recent attacks and security warnings issued to commercial vessels.
Since late February, when the Middle East war broke out, at least 41 incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman have been reported to UKMTO.
IMO, the UN maritime agency, is working with the shipping industry on contingency planning, including a possible safe evacuation framework for vessels and crews caught in the conflict zone.
Around 800 ships engaged in international trade - including oil tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels - could potentially be involved in such an evacuation, carrying vital energy supplies and commodities.
With an average of 25 crew members per vessel, this translates to roughly 20,000 seafarers directly exposed to the risks.
IMO warned that 'All the people - seafarers - on board ships of any kind in the Persian Gulf area are vulnerable to any re-escalation of the conflict.' It noted risks from missiles, falling debris and potential shortages of food and water on board.
While some crew changes and repatriations have taken place - with around 450 seafarers assisted - tens of thousands remain at sea, as the broader fleet in the region numbers closer to 3,000 vessels of all types, according to IMO.
The maritime agency also said that naval escorts alone cannot provide a lasting solution, calling for de-escalation and a long-term agreement to ensure safe navigation.
'Naval escorts are not a sustainable solution, true de-escalation and a long-term agreement that ensures the safety of seafarers is the only way forward,' it said.
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