LONDON, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The UN's maritime body called Thursday for the creation of a safe shipping "corridor" in the Gulf to evacuate stranded vessels and seafarers, after an emergency meeting that also condemned Iran. Following two days of urgent talks in London convened due to the Middle East war, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said the "safe maritime corridor" should be established as "a provisional and urgent measure". IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the "humanitarian corridor" would "evacuate ships in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz". It came as around 20,000 seafarers remained stranded on approximately 3,200 vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UN body. If there is safe passage, what are the terms and the conditions for such safe passage?"
