UN agency prepares Hormuz evacuation plan for hundreds of ships

The International Maritime Organization is working on an evacuation plan for hundreds of ships that have been stuck in the Persian Gulf since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began more than seven weeks ago, according to Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said.

The plan can only be put into action when there are clear signs of de-escalation, Dominguez said on the sidelines of Singapore Maritime Week. Details being discussed include an order of departure for vessels, depending on the length of time the crew has been stranded, among other factors, he added.

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Any transits would follow a long-established route — the Traffic Separation Scheme that was proposed by Iran and Oman and adopted by the IMO in 1968, Dominguez said. Iran has developed a system over the past weeks that includes a specific route close to its coast and, in some cases, payment.

The IMO is in touch with littoral states, including Iran and Oman, and flag states to finalize the blueprint.