The UN plans to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors and 600 ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Iran War, to begin once ships are cleared to pass through designated routes
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The UN’s International Maritime Organization is set to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors who have been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Iran War.
The agency said this on Tuesday as both the US and Iran continue to dispute the details of the Memorandum of Understanding after an interim deal was signed last week. The war, which began on Feb. 28, has disrupted global shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz that roughly accounted for 25% of the world’s maritime oil trade and has left thousands of civilian sailors stranded.
The IMO has estimated that around 600 ships were stranded in the area. Fourteen seafarers also lost their lives during the conflict from targeted military strikes, crossfire incidents, and harsh conditions on ships that were blockaded.
“I want to pay tribute to the fourteen innocent seafarers who tragically lost their lives during this conflict. Their dedication in service of global trade will not be forgotten,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in a statement.
These comments come after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked during his visit to the United Arab Emirates whether the U.S. could ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as there were reports that Iran was charging fees to tankers passing the strait, a major shipping channel for oil and natural gas.
"It's an international waterway," Rubio told reporters. "No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway."
Dominguez said in the statement that the evacuation would be a “large-scale operation” involving the U.S., Iran, Oman, other coastal States in the region and the maritime industry.
Amid concerns over any mines remaining in the strait, Oman issued a formal notification establishing “a temporary maritime corridor” and directing vessels to follow coordinates verified by the International Maritime Organization and Omani authorities.
So far, up to 172 vessels have traveled through the strait after it reopened, with 42 ships passing on just Saturday, according to data from Kpler, a maritime intelligence firm. This is still below the average of ships that passed before the war.
The evacuation operation for the trapped fleet is set to begin when the ships are cleared to pass through designated routes under the agreed framework.
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