Bloomberg interviews IMO secretary general Arsenio Dominguez about the Strait of Hormuz shutdown risk and evacuation of merchant shipping. He says transits have recovered somewhat to roughly 30 vessels per day from very low levels, but hundreds of merchant vessels and tens of thousands of seafarers still need to be evacuated, and the priority is coordinated safe passage via Omani waters rather than a rushed reopening.
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This is a focused geopolitical/maritime risk interview centered on the Strait of Hormuz. Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the International Maritime Organization, says vessel traffic has improved from an extremely low base, but the situation is still fragile and the immediate priority is safe evacuation rather than normal traffic. He describes the current state as “a limited number, but an increased number of vessels transiting,” citing around 30 vessels a day versus about 130 in normal conditions, and says many ships are using a temporary traffic separation scheme or routing through Omani waters. A core part of his answer is that the IMO is working “very heavily” with Oman, the United States, and the industry to circulate notice-to-mariners guidance and coordinate an evacuation route. …
Tactically, the setup remains fragile: some traffic is moving, but the strait is still an active evacuation and safety zone, so headline risk can quickly reprice shipping and energy-related sentiment. The actionable tell is whether transits continue to normalize without incidents.
Over the next few weeks, the likely path is gradual easing if Oman, Iran, and the IMO keep the corridor open and demining advances. A renewed spike in disruptions would invalidate the normalization case and keep freight/insurance pressure elevated.
Structurally, Hormuz remains a persistent chokepoint where geopolitics, maritime law, and logistics intersect. Even after the immediate crisis fades, the episode reinforces a regime of higher security awareness and recurring premium risk for Gulf transit.
Around 550 to 600 merchant vessels still need to be evacuated from the Strait of Hormuz.
He says that is the current number of merchant vessels with IMO numbers that remain to be moved out.
Transit through the Strait of Hormuz has risen to about 30 merchant vessels a day, though that remains far below normal levels.
The speaker cites recent records showing roughly 30 transits yesterday and Friday, compared with a normal level around 130 vessels per day.
There is no legal basis under international law for a country to impose tolls or fees on transiting international straits.
He argues that international straits must remain open to transit and that tolls or fees would violate the principles of international navigation law.
What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz right now, and is it open or closed?
He says traffic has increased, with about 30 vessels transiting on Friday and Saturday, but that is still well below normal levels. He frames the situation as limited and still needing more information before normal transit can resume safely.
How hard is it to know which vessels are getting through and which are not?
He says verification is difficult because the count refers to IMO-numbered merchant vessels, while other traffic such as military vessels is not included. He adds that different reporting and navigation procedures are being coordinated with Oman, the United States, and Iran.
How many vessels and seafarers are still waiting to evacuate the strait?
He estimates that about 550 to 600 merchant vessels still need to evacuate the Strait of Hormuz. He also says the gross total of seafarers involved is around 20,000, with about 11,000 regularly transiting in and out.
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