Following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the International Maritime Organization has launched a coordinated operation to evacuate hundreds of ships and approximately 11,000 seafarers who have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Evacuation Underway
According to ShippingWatch, citing Reuters, the IMO has confirmed that a plan is now in place and contact with stranded vessels has begun. “We have now begun contacting the ships to initiate the evacuation,” an IMO spokesperson told Reuters.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the operation would be conducted in close collaboration with Iran, Oman, other regional coastal states, the United States, and the broader maritime industry. The IMO also confirmed it has secured what it describes as “the necessary security guarantees” to ensure safe passage.
What Led to This Situation
The Strait of Hormuz — the sole maritime gateway into and out of the Persian Gulf — was effectively closed to civilian shipping after conflict broke out in late February. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard took control of the strait, and the combination of military activity and attack risk brought commercial traffic to a near-standstill.
Ships already in the Gulf at the time found themselves unable to depart, leaving crews stranded for months. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern oil and gas exports dropped sharply, contributing to significant increases in global energy prices, as reported by ShippingWatch.
Traffic Returning, But Slowly
Following a framework agreement between the US and Iran reached last week, the strait has been reopened to commercial traffic. Vessel-tracking data cited by ShippingWatch shows that Monday marked the highest level of Hormuz traffic since the war began. According to Kpler, at least 37 cargo ships passed through on Monday, while AXSMarine recorded 42 transits — though both figures represent roughly one-third of pre-war traffic levels.
Does This Matter to You?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and natural gas passed through it, according to ShippingWatch. The prolonged closure disrupted energy supply chains, elevated freight risk premiums, and left vessel schedules in disarray across multiple shipping segments.
The phased return of traffic — and the organised evacuation of hundreds of vessels — signals a significant shift in the operational landscape in the region. The pace and security of that normalisation, however, remains a key variable. As separately reported by ShippingWatch, high insurance premiums continue to slow the return to normal operations in Hormuz, and analysts at Jyske Bank suggest full normalisation could take up to four months.
The direct implications for port planning, cargo routing, bunker demand, and vessel positioning in the region will depend on how smoothly this evacuation and resumption of traffic proceeds.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: ShippingWatch (via Ritzau/Reuters)
