The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Domínguez, met with representatives of the Gulf States to the Organization, including Iraq, to discuss an emergency plan for the evacuation of seafarers and vessels located in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas, in light of the escalating challenges facing international navigation in the region.

Captain Mazen Al-Kaabi, Maritime Attaché and Deputy Permanent Representative of Iraq to the IMO, stated that “the meeting addressed a comprehensive plan prepared by the Organization to establish secure maritime corridors that would allow vessels to exit in an orderly manner, alongside mechanisms for evacuating seafarers in emergency situations.”

He explained that “the Secretary-General distributed the details of the plan to the participating states,” emphasizing the importance of regional coordination and integrated efforts to ensure the safety of navigation. He called upon the Gulf States and Iraq to provide the necessary logistical support, including supplying vessels with water and fuel, securing evacuation operations, and delivering medical care when required.

In this context, Dr. Eng. Farhan Al-Fartousi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, held a telephone conversation with Iraq’s Maritime Attaché in London prior to the meeting, during which he affirmed the company’s readiness to provide all required technical and logistical support, in line with Iraq’s commitments to strengthening the international maritime safety system.

According to Captain Mazen Al-Kaabi, the IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Domínguez, commended the efforts of the Iraqi authorities to enhance the security and safety of seafarers in the region, underscoring the importance of Iraq’s regional role in supporting maritime emergency response.

This initiative reflects the Iraqi government’s orientation toward greater engagement with international organizations and expanding avenues of cooperation, in line with the application of technical standards and recommendations issued by the IMO, thereby enhancing the preparedness of Iraq’s maritime sector to address emergency crises.