The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is preparing a coordinated evacuation plan for hundreds of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf following over seven weeks of heightened tensions triggered by strikes involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the evacuation framework is being readied but will only be implemented once there are clear signs of de-escalation in the region. He was speaking on the sidelines of Singapore Maritime Week.
According to Dominguez, the plan includes prioritising vessel departures based on how long crews have been stranded, along with other operational considerations. The objective is to ensure an orderly and safe exit for ships once conditions permit.
Any evacuation convoy is expected to follow the established Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Strait of Hormuz—a route originally proposed by Iran and Oman and adopted by the IMO in 1968. In recent weeks, Iran has also introduced additional routing measures closer to its coastline, in some cases involving transit payments.
The IMO is currently in close coordination with regional littoral states, including Iran and Oman, as well as with flag states, to finalise the evacuation blueprint.
The situation underscores growing concerns over maritime safety and the welfare of seafarers amid escalating geopolitical instability in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.