ON May 5, the containership CMA CGM San Antonio was struck by a projectile while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed eight seafarers were injured.

In the aftermath, the U.S. military suspended its Project Freedom operation, which had been established to assist and guide commercial vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf. According to splash247, while this escort initiative has been paused, the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in force.

Iran has announced intentions to formalize control over the Strait of Hormuz. According to reporting by The Maritime Executive, Tehran has set up a new regulatory agency (the Persian Gulf Strait Authority) tasked to approve transit and administer tolls from vessels navigating the waterway. The U.S. has warned shipping companies that making payments for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would expose them to sanctions.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council in late April, IMO Secretary‑General Arsenio Dominguez stressed the stakes for global trade. He said, “The principle of freedom of navigation is not negotiable. Ships must be allowed to trade worldwide unhindered and in accordance with international law.” He went on to say, “Any deviation from these well-established and recognized principles would set a negative precedent and severely undermine the integrity and stability of shipping operations worldwide.”

According to a press briefing, the IMO noted that approximately 20,000 seafarers aboard 1,600 vessels remain stranded in the Gulf.

Source: splash247, The Maritime Executive, International Maritime Organization