UN maritime body urges ‘safe maritime corridor’ in Gulf

By AFP 19 March 2026, 7:37 pm

Edit

The UN’s maritime body calls for a safe shipping “corridor” in the Gulf to evacuate stranded vessels and seafarers, in a declaration following an emergency meeting that also condemned Iran.

Following two days of urgent talks in London convened because of the Middle East war, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) says in formal declaration that the “safe maritime corridor” should be established as “a provisional and urgent measure.”

The UN agency — responsible for regulating international shipping safety — adds that the corridor must “facilitate the safe evacuation of merchant ships from the high-risk and affected areas to a safe place.”