IMO Begins Evacuating 11,000 Stranded Sailors From Strait of Hormuz

The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization began evacuating more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after a memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

“The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has begun evacuating more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following the memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran to end the US-Israel war on Iran”

Al Jazeera

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation would be carried out in “close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry”.

Al Jazeera

The BBC reported that the “large-scale operation” would be carried out in cooperation with Iran, Oman, the US, other coastal states in the region and the maritime industry.

Al Jazeera said Tehran had effectively closed off the strait after the start of the war on February 28, leaving vessels stuck on the waterway, but shipping traffic increased after the agreement last week.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that “It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway,” as he arrived in the United Arab Emirates.

The BBC said evacuating stranded sailors hinges on the Strait remaining open, and it reported that two temporary routes through the strait could be used with vessels being contacted individually for further instructions, according to Oman's notice to mariners provided by the IMO.

BBC

Al Jazeera reported that Oman’s Defence Ministry said the evacuation process would be phased, adding “Given the elevated risk of collision in the current environment, a gradual and controlled evacuation of vessel traffic is required,”.

The BBC also described the dispute over nuclear inspections, quoting a US official saying: “the Iranians have agreed to robust IAEA inspections of the remains of their nuclear weapons programme.”

Al Jazeera said Kpler reported that at least 36 commercial vessels passed through the strait on Monday, described as a record level of traffic since the war began.

“Large scale operation to be carried out in cooperation with States and industry Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, IMO Secretary-General Mr”

International Maritime Organization

The BBC reported that “at least 172 vessels have travelled through the reopened Strait of Hormuz” and that Kpler data showed “42 ships on Saturday alone,” while BBC Verify found more than 200 tankers waiting inside the strait on Tuesday.

The International Maritime Organization statement said it would begin implementing the evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the region and reiterated that it had “thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation”.

Al Jazeera added that the UN operation would be carried out with “close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry,” even as it noted that hundreds of ships remained stranded on both sides of Hormuz.