The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is set to start a major evacuation of over 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf after last week’s peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran. On Tuesday, IM...
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is set to start a major evacuation of over 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf after last week’s peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
On Tuesday, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez revealed this plan, highlighting that the operation will involve cooperation with Iran, Oman, other coastal states, the United States, and the maritime industry.
“After months of suffering for thousands of innocent seafarers, and the negative impact on the global community, I am pleased to see the peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, which is a significant step towards restoring maritime security and ending the unacceptable attacks on civilian shipping,” said Dominguez.
The Secretary-General also honored the 14 seafarers who lost their lives during the conflict.
“We will begin to implement the evacuation plan for the over 11,000 seafarers still trapped in the region,” he added. “This large-scale operation will be carried out in close collaboration with Iran, Oman, and other coastal states, as well as the U.S. and the maritime sector.”
This announcement activates a plan that the IMO first started developing in March, when many ships and tens of thousands of seafarers found themselves trapped in the Gulf due to attacks on commercial vessels, threats from mines, and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
At that time, the IMO estimated that around 20,000 seafarers aboard approximately 3,200 vessels were unable to leave the region safely.
Oman announced it will create a temporary maritime corridor to assist with the evacuation. Muscat stated they are collaborating with the IMO to ensure ships have a temporary transit route through the Strait of Hormuz and that navigation through the area should not incur transit fees. This comes as shipping organizations seek clarity on how navigation in the Strait will be managed following last week’s U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.
The emerging evacuation framework provides clear guidelines for how shipping will function during this transition period.
A navigation advisory from Oman’s National Hydrographic Office notes that the IMO has established a “phased approach” for vessel departures, coordinating with Omani authorities through designated groups of ships. This process aims to provide a “gradual and controlled evacuation of vessel traffic” due to heightened safety risks in the Strait.
Importantly, the advisory warns that “current reports suggest that the TSS is not safe for use at this time.”
Vessels leaving the Gulf may instead follow one of two temporary routes through the Strait of Hormuz—one to the south of the existing Traffic Separation Scheme and another to the north.
The southern corridor will operate in waters coordinated by Oman and the IMO, while a separate northern route is being managed with Iran’s growing involvement in traffic control through the Strait.
Ships will be contacted individually regarding their departure schedules and will be directed to waiting areas in international waters before receiving final navigation instructions from the relevant coastal state. The advisory also mandates that vessels maintain AIS transmissions and comply with instructions from coastal authorities via VHF radio.
These procedures reflect ongoing security concerns in the Strait, even after last week’s memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.
Dominguez stated that the IMO has “secured the necessary safety guarantees” and “thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation” necessary for the evacuation process.
However, the organization’s own guidelines make it clear that risks are still present. Threats from mines continue to influence traffic management decisions. According to the U.S.-Iran memorandum, Iran is responsible for de-mining operations, though shipping groups report that no formal mine clearance efforts have started yet.
The Omani navigation advisory also indicates that vessel traffic may be temporarily halted for safety and security reasons, including the need to avoid conflicts with naval forces operating in the area.
Moreover, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed its support for the IMO-led evacuation.
In a statement issued on June 23, UKMTO mentioned that the IMO is working with industry organizations, coastal states, and regional partners to develop a “prioritized approach to the safe and orderly movement of vessels,” which includes identifying ships for staged departures from the Gulf. Vessels may be contacted directly to inform them of their inclusion in an IMO planning batch, but UKMTO stressed that participation is voluntary and the decisions regarding vessel movement, routing, and timing rest with the ship’s captain and owner.
The evacuation plan is progressing as discussions about the overall governance of the Strait continue.
On Tuesday, Iran and Oman announced their intention to establish a joint working group to discuss the future management of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including maritime services and associated costs.
Simultaneously, U.S. Central Command has reiterated that freedom of navigation remains intact and that U.S. forces will continue to operate in the area to ensure safe passage.
This marks the beginning of a significant transition period, where commercial traffic is gradually returning, albeit through temporary routes, staged evacuations, and an evolving framework for the management of one of the world’s most critical waterways.
For now, the IMO’s main priority is to safely bring home thousands of seafarers who have been trapped in a conflict zone for almost four months.
“We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of seafarers and the continuity of global trade,” Dominguez emphasized.
The International Chamber of Shipping stated that the main focus remains the safe evacuation of seafarers who have been trapped since the conflict began and that it will continue to collaborate with the IMO and industry partners to ensure the safety and security of shipping operations looking to exit the region.
“We have consistently pointed out that this requires coordination between the International Maritime Organization (IMO), regional states, and crucially, the industry,” the ICS stated. “The IMO evacuation plan is a welcome step towards achieving this coordination and restoring freedom of navigation. It is essential that this plan works in harmony, rather than in conflict, with existing mechanisms.”