Following the US-Iran peace agreement, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has begun a mass evacuation of between 500 and 600 commercial ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation will use two temporary sea lanes-a Northern route near Iran’s coast and a Southern route through Omani and UAE waters-with Iran and Oman guaranteeing safe passage.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed the deal, calling it a decisive step toward restoring maritime security after months of attacks that killed 14 seafarers and disrupted global energy markets.
Shipmasters were instructed not to move until contacted by IMO staff, as the agency warned of sea-mine risks and degraded navigation conditions. Vessels will be assigned transit groups and departure days.
Third Officer Clarisse Bangga, a Filipino mariner recently evacuated, described the mental toll of waiting: “You don’t know when the war will end, you don’t know when the vessel can safely pass the Strait.” Her testimony underscored the uncertainty faced by crews amid missile and drone attacks.