politics
March 18, 2026
UN seeks safe corridor for 20,000 sailors stranded in the Persian Gulf
Bahrain, Japan, Panama, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates submitted a proposal at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in London to provide a safe maritime corridor for the release of approximately 20,000 sailors stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to Times of Israel.
TL;DR
- Bahrain, Japan, Panama, Singapore, and the UAE proposed a safe maritime corridor at the IMO Council meeting in London.
- The proposal aims to secure the release of around 20,000 sailors stranded in the Persian Gulf.
- Hundreds of ships are anchored in the Gulf due to threats from Tehran to attack vessels attempting to leave via the Strait of Hormuz.
- The US supports the IMO's framework for a safe maritime corridor to facilitate the evacuation of merchant ships and protect seafarers.
- IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez reported at least seven sailors have died in the conflict.
- Iran has informed the IMO that its authorities are providing humanitarian aid to sailors and ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
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