Strait of Hormuz ship evacuation not yet feasible, says Turkish minister

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, provided an update on the status of Turkish-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to the press, Uraloğlu said that at present, evacuating the ships is not feasible, though crews and captains remain in regular contact, TRT Haber reports.

“The sailors face no humanitarian issues, and their condition is being monitored continuously,” he added.

The minister confirmed that 14 Turkish-flagged vessels remain in the strait. Three of these do not require evacuation, as they are engaged in specialized operations, including energy production. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the withdrawal of the remaining ships.

Addressing concerns over maritime safety following a drone attack on the tanker Altura in the Bosphorus Strait, Uraloğlu said experts are closely monitoring the situation and have verified that external interference occurred. He noted that the incident took place outside Türkiye’s territorial waters and does not create significant navigation hazards.

The minister further noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is overseeing the evacuation operations, with concerted efforts underway to ensure the safe withdrawal of the vessels.

By Vafa Guliyeva