International Maritime Organization to Evacuate Over 11,000 Seafarers Trapped in Strait of Hormuz

The International Maritime Organization declared that it will commence the evacuation of over 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused by the war in the Middle East.

Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the organization, stated in a release that this extensive operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, the Sultanate of Oman, all other coastal countries in the region, the United States, and the maritime shipping sector. He added that they have secured the necessary security guarantees and have thoroughly verified the availability of safe navigation conditions to support these operations.

Maritime shipping activity has seen a revival since Iran and the United States reached an agreement last week to reopen this vital shipping route under a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war.

According to the evacuation plan, two temporary maritime corridors through the strait may be used, with individual communication to ships to provide further instructions, as indicated in a navigational notice issued by the Sultanate of Oman and relayed by the International Maritime Organization.

The organization also announced it will issue a daily report on the number of vessels departing the area safely. Dominguez expressed relief over the peace agreement between the United States and Iran, noting that after months of suffering and hardship for thousands of innocent seafarers, and the negative repercussions on the entire world, he welcomes the accord.

He further stated that the agreement represents a critical step toward restoring maritime navigation security and putting an end to unacceptable attacks on civilian vessels.