IMO announces evacuation plan for seafarers in Strait of Hormuz
London, June 23
The International Maritime Organisation on Tuesday announced an evacuation plan for more than 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IMO has secured the necessary safety guarantees and verified safe navigation conditions to support the evacuation operation, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.
The operation follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States (U.S.) and will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, other countries in the region, and the maritime industry, Dominguez said, Xinhua news agency reported.
Dominguez welcomed the peace agreement between Iran and the US, saying it marks a decisive step toward restoring maritime security and ending attacks against civilian shipping, after months of conflict that have caused hardship for thousands of seafarers and disrupted global trade.
He also paid tribute to the 14 seafarers who lost their lives during the conflict, saying their service to global trade will not be forgotten.
Moreover, Dominguez reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to ensuring the safety of seafarers and the continuity of global trade.
On June 15, Dominguez said that the implementation of the evacuation plan would require time to ensure that all necessary safety and security guarantees are in place.
The IMO, he said, remains committed to maritime safety, the protection of seafarers, freedom of navigation and the continued free flow of global trade.
According to IMO figures, 46 incidents involving ships were confirmed in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region between late February and June 11, resulting in 14 seafarer fatalities.
"Their courage and resilience in the face of prolonged uncertainty deserve the highest recognition," Dominguez said while expressing his sympathies for the victims.
Ali Bahreini, Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Office at Geneva, announced on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels without tolls.
Bahreini said that the situation will be reviewed after 60 days, depending on negotiations between Iran and the US.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Respect to the IMO for stepping up and brokering this. But let's not forget the 14 seafarers who lost their lives—their families deserve justice, not just a tribute. The maritime industry needs stricter safety protocols in conflict zones.
As an Indian, this hits close to home. Many of those seafarers could be our own people working on international vessels. The Strait of Hormuz is a lifeline for global trade, and it's tragic that ordinary workers became pawns in a political chess game. Let's hope peace holds 🤞
Iran saying "no tolls" for 60 days sounds like a temporary Band-Aid. What happens after that? Will they start blocking again? The real solution is to address the root cause—regional tensions. Until then, seafarers and shipping companies are just sitting ducks.
It's reassuring that the IMO and Iran have sorted out safety guarantees. But 46 incidents in 4 months? That's almost one every three days. The sea lanes need permanent protection, not just a one-time evacuation. Kudos to the seafarers for their endurance during this nightmare.
"Their courage deserves the highest recognition"—true, but words alone won't compensate for months of trauma and lost lives. I'm glad a peaceful agreement was reached, but I wish global powers would stop using civilian shipping as a bargaining chip. 💔
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