Hormuz Paralysis Deepens as UN Agency Prepares Ship Exit Plan

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 21, 2026

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Bloomberg reported that the International Maritime Organization, the UN agency responsible for global shipping, is preparing a plan to move hundreds of vessels still stranded inside the Gulf after weeks of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, IMO Secretary-

General Arsenio Dominguez said any operational move would depend on clear signs of de-escalation and confirmation that the waterway is free of mines before ships are allowed to pass.

The move comes as traffic through the strait remains near paralysis. Reuters reported on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, that only three ships had crossed Hormuz in the previous 24 hours, compared with a pre-crisis average of around 140 vessels a day. The agency added that about 20,000 seafarers and hundreds of ships remain stranded in the Gulf, raising mounting concerns over crew safety and the broader impact on shipping and energy flows.

IMO statements suggest the issue has moved beyond simple monitoring toward preparing an operational framework for a safe and coordinated release of stranded vessels once conditions allow. In an earlier briefing, the organization warned that fragmented responses were no longer sufficient and stressed the need to address humanitarian corridors, seafarer safety, crew rotation, and essential support for ships caught in the crisis.

The disruption carries major global economic weight because the Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Any prolonged blockage can quickly ripple through energy markets, marine insurance costs, and international supply chains.