The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) said on Tuesday that it would begin an operation to evacuate more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf after the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation follows a peace agreement between the United States and Iran that ended months of conflict and allowed commercial shipping to resume through one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the evacuation would be carried out in cooperation with regional countries and the shipping industry. “This large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal States in the region, the United States and the maritime industry,” Dominguez said in a statement.
He added: “We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations.”
Iran had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after the outbreak of war on 28 February following US and Israeli strikes. The disruption drove up global oil prices and interrupted shipments of energy and other commodities, including fertiliser. Thousands of sailors were left unable to leave the region as vessels remained stuck in Gulf waters.
Shipping traffic has increased since the US-Iran agreement came into force. According to data from shipping analytics platform Kpler, at least 36 commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the highest level of traffic since the war began.
The IMO said two temporary routes through the strait could be used during the evacuation and that ships would receive individual instructions.
Dominguez welcomed the agreement between Washington and Tehran, saying: “After months of hardship and distress for thousands of innocent seafarers, and negative impact for the whole world, I welcome with deep satisfaction the peace agreement concluded between the United States and Iran.”
He added that the deal marked “a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping.”