IMO Reports 79 Middle East Maritime Incidents as Two EL GAIA Seafarers Remain Missing

The International Maritime Organization said September 14 that 79 confirmed maritime incidents had been recorded in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding Middle East waters, with 22 confirmed seafarer fatalities. Its updated incident list also records damage to the EL GAIA in the Strait of Hormuz on September 12 and says two seafarers remain missing.

The update adds to the safety pressure on crews and vessels using a critical international shipping route. The IMO says around 20,000 seafarers, port workers and offshore crews are affected across the region, while a framework to evacuate stranded crews remains paused.

Two EL GAIA seafarers remain missing

The IMO’s incident record says the EL GAIA was damaged in the Strait of Hormuz on September 12. It lists the extent of any pollution as unknown and says two seafarers are missing.

The entry does not identify who caused the damage or describe it as an attack. The two missing crew members also are not included in the IMO’s separate total of 22 confirmed seafarer fatalities.

That distinction matters for the families of the missing workers, for the vessel’s operator and for authorities trying to establish what happened aboard the ship. It also illustrates the uncertainty facing crews operating in waters where new incidents continue to be recorded.

A separate vessel incident was reported on September 13

Reuters reported that the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations office said a vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on September 13. The report said the strike caused a fire and forced the crew to evacuate.

The Associated Press separately reported that a vessel was hit, local authorities were evacuating people aboard and commercial ship traffic through the strait remained low. AP said it was not clear whether the UKMTO report referred to the same vessel as the incident described by Iranian authorities.

Those reports concern a separate September 13 incident and should not be merged with the IMO’s account of the EL GAIA. The available reporting does not establish who was responsible for the separate strike.

Why low traffic matters beyond the strait

The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for energy cargoes and other goods. When operators delay a transit, reroute a vessel or wait for additional security information, cargo schedules can lengthen and crews may remain aboard vessels longer than planned. Operators may also face higher insurance and other operating costs.

Low commercial traffic does not by itself mean the route is closed. It does show that shipping decisions are being made under heightened uncertainty, while the workers who keep ships, ports and offshore facilities operating continue to carry the immediate safety burden.

Evacuation plan remains paused

The IMO says its plan for evacuating stranded crews is currently paused. The agency’s information page records 136 vessels and an estimated 2,900 seafarers evacuated to date. It does not say that the wider safety problem has been resolved.

For ship operators, crews and businesses that depend on energy and other cargo movements, the latest official information points to continued operational pressure rather than a return to normal service. The IMO says it is continuing to monitor developments and publish updates.

The most immediate human consequence remains the two EL GAIA seafarers whose whereabouts are still unknown after the vessel was damaged on September 12.

Sources

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