International maritime evacuation plan begins in the Strait of Hormuz

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has initiated a coordinated plan to evacuate hundreds of commercial vessels and approximately 11,000 seafarers trapped in the Persian Gulf. This operation follows a memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran. Vessels are now utilizing two temporary transit routes: a northern path through Iranian waters and a southern path through waters coordinated by Oman and the United States. According to LSEG tracking data, ships including dry bulk carriers and tankers carrying crude oil have already begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Oman's National Hydrographic Office declared the standard Traffic Separation Scheme unsafe in a June 23 navigation warning, necessitating these temporary tracks. While specific coordinates and communication protocols have been released for the southern route, instructions for the northern route remain pending from Iranian authorities. The IMO advises ships to await specific instructions before proceeding. It remains unclear if all vessels currently exiting the Gulf are operating specifically under this IMO-coordinated framework.