by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng

LONDON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez said that evacuating stranded seafarers has become a top priority amid tensions affecting shipping in the Gulf region, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain the best solution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua at the headquarters of the IMO in London on Tuesday, Dominguez said the crisis has left "around 20,000 innocent seafarers on around 2,000 ships" stranded in the Gulf region.

Stressing that evacuating these seafarers has become a top priority, he said his organization is accelerating negotiations to establish an evacuation framework.

He explained that the organization is in the process of developing practical operational measures -- such as collecting ship information and sharing it with the relevant parties in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IMO, a specialized UN agency responsible for maritime safety and environmental protection, does not directly address the root causes of geopolitical conflicts, Dominguez said. However, he emphasized that "anything that has a negative effect on seafarers in shipping, we need to get involved within our remit."

Reflecting on his remarks during a recent IMO Council Extraordinary Session that "when seafarers die, statements alone are not enough," Dominguez explained that his concern stemmed from the public's frequent failure to recognize the human suffering of seafarers.

While reaffirming the importance of raising awareness, he stressed that practical solutions must follow.

"The IMO's mandate is of technical and operational aspects, and we would always maintain that," he said, noting that the organization has experience in navigating crises affecting shipping.

Amid the escalating conflict, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz -- one of the world's most critical energy transit chokepoints -- has seen severe disruptions. According to market data, commercial vessel transits through the strait have dropped about 95 percent compared with pre-conflict levels.

Dominguez noted that the impact of the conflict extends far beyond shipping. It has disrupted global supply chains, affected food security, and driven up energy prices, ultimately increasing the cost of living worldwide.

He reiterated the IMO Council's call for de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue.

"The more that we reiterate that call, the more we will be able to bring the parties to the table," he said, adding that "the best solution is to actually sit down, acknowledge any differences, and find the ways to move forward."

Addressing the broader solution to the crisis, Dominguez pointed to the core principles of the United Nations. "We will continue to uphold those principles and call for everyone to use multilateralism and dialogue as the way forward," he said.

Asked about China's role, Dominguez described it as an active and constructive participant.

"China is a very active member state at IMO," he said, expressing hope that it will continue contributing ideas and engaging with other countries to find solutions. ■