LONDON — Ships have begun sailing through the Strait of Hormuz under a new evacuation scheme coordinated by the United Nations’ shipping agency to allow vessels and stranded seafarers trapped in the Gulf to depart, officials said.
The International Maritime Organization announced that the initiative, developed over several months, is now underway following a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. The plan aims to facilitate the safe passage of hundreds of commercial ships carrying more than 11,000 seafarers who have been stranded since Iran effectively closed the strait amid the conflict.
At least two dry bulk ships and one cargo ship sailed through the strait in the past day under the scheme, according to shipping tracking data. Three stranded tankers carrying about 5 million barrels of crude oil were also reported exiting, with two heading toward Asia.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the large-scale operation would proceed in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry. Safety guarantees have been secured and conditions for navigation verified, the agency said.
"We have now started contacting the ships to start the evacuation," an IMO spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The evacuation is expected to be phased, with temporary routes designated through the strait to minimize risks, according to notices from Oman’s Defence Ministry. Between 500 and 600 vessels are involved in the broader effort.
Traffic through the strait, a critical chokepoint for about one-fifth of global oil trade, had fallen sharply since late February when hostilities intensified. Pre-conflict transits averaged around 130 vessels per day, compared with far lower numbers in recent months.
The IMO has described the operation as essential for the welfare of seafarers and the resumption of global maritime trade. Details on the exact number of ships that have completed passage so far remained limited as of Wednesday, with the agency declining to identify specific vessels.
As of Wednesday, the phased evacuation continued, with IMO officials monitoring progress and coordinating with participating parties. Further increases in transit volumes are anticipated in the coming days and weeks as more vessels receive instructions to depart under the scheme.
