The International Maritime Organization, a specialized United Nations agency, said it is launching an evacuation of thousands of stranded seafarers following easing of restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz.

“After months of hardship and distress for thousands of innocent seafarers, and negative impact for the whole world, I welcome with deep satisfaction the peace agreement concluded between the United States and Iran, marking a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping,” IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.

Dominguez said the agency “will begin the implementation of the evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the region. This large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal States in the region, the United States and the maritime industry.”

Restrictions imposed on the Strait of Hormuz by Iran during the war sparked an unprecedented crisis in the region, which left thousands of crews trapped on ships with no clear way out. When the US imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports, the situation worsened.

The competing measures created a standoff that brought traffic through the strategic chokepoint to a near halt, with only a handful of vessels transiting the waterway each day compared to more than a hundred in normal conditions.

The IMO reported that 14 seafarers were killed in attacks during the conflict.

Source: CNN

– Agencies