On June 23, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez announced the commencement of the evacuation plan for over 11,000 crew members. The operation will be conducted in collaboration with regional coastal nations, including Iran and Oman, as well as the United States and the shipping industry.
Dominguez stated, "We have secured the necessary safety assurances and verified the navigational conditions to support the operation." According to a notice shared by the Omani side, two temporary routes will be utilized for the vessel movements through the Hormuz Strait. The existing routes have been deemed insufficiently safe due to collision risks and the threat of mines.
An IMO spokesperson told Reuters, "We have begun notifying the vessels to commence movement." However, specific timelines have not been disclosed. Ships are expected to pass through the Hormuz Strait in phases on designated dates communicated individually.
Ship movements in the Hormuz Strait have also seen a slight increase. Tracking data indicates that three very large crude carriers recently exited the strait, and seven liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers linked to Qatar have resumed operations. Nonetheless, traffic levels remain significantly below pre-war figures, suggesting that full normalization will take more time.
Dominguez described the peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran as a "decisive step to restore maritime security and end attacks on commercial shipping." He also expressed condolences for the 14 crew members who lost their lives during the conflict.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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