IMO announces evacuation plan for seafarers in Strait of Hormuz
London, June 23 (IANS) The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 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
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