IMO launches evacuation plan for hundreds of ships stranded in Persian Gulf

A United Nations maritime agency said on June 23 that it has launched an evacuation plan to move hundreds of ships and thousands of seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf during the recent U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said the operation to guide vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will be carried out in coordination with the United States, Oman, Iran, and other Gulf states, The New York Times reports. 

“We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations,” said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the IMO, in a statement.

According to the agency, as many as 600 ships remain stuck in the Gulf, with crews onboard for more than three months. The IMO said the number of vessels leaving the region has begun to increase as U.S.–Iran negotiations advance toward a potential long-term agreement, though traffic remains below prewar levels.

During the conflict, Iran attacked commercial vessels, leading many shipping companies to suspend transit through the strategic waterway. As a result, vessels became stranded in the Gulf, with operators waiting for improved security conditions before resuming passage.

Michelle Wiese Bockmann, an analyst with maritime intelligence firm Windward, described the evacuation effort as “most welcome for those stranded vessels yet to exit because of safety and security risks.”

An IMO spokesperson said the organisation has begun contacting ships directly to coordinate their departure from the region.

Oman’s defence ministry said on June 23 that evacuated vessels should follow a route along the country’s coastline. The United States military has reportedly been assisting in coordinating safe passage through these corridors in recent weeks.

Dominguez said around 11,000 crew members have been affected by the disruption, describing their situation as involving “months of hardship and distress.” The IMO also reported that 46 ships were attacked during the conflict, resulting in the deaths of 14 sailors.

The shipping industry has called for a return to prewar arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments and a significant share of liquefied natural gas transport.

Under a recent memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, Tehran said vessels would be allowed to transit the strait without charges for 60 days. However, concerns remain that Iran may seek to impose fees on shipping.

Commenting on the negotiations on June 23, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway.”

By Sabina Mammadli