The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is a major challenge for the global shipping industry, said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization. He said 20,000 sailors and 2,000 ships are stranded.
'About 20,000 sailors are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and nearly 2,000 ships are unable to sail. The longer these ships remain there, the more the crews suffer from stress, psychological pressure and fatigue, as well as from the lack of supplies necessary to operate the ships.'
The head of the IMO stressed that insurance companies are refusing to cover costs or damages, canceling contracts or imposing very high insurance premiums.
Currently, a humanitarian crisis on these ships is being averted thanks to the assistance provided by countries around the strait, while the IMO is calling for the creation of a humanitarian corridor that would allow ships to exit the area.
