Ships have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz under a new United Nations-backed arrangement aimed at evacuating vessels trapped in the waterway amid ongoing regional tensions, according to an International Maritime Organization (IMO) spokesperson on Wednesday. The initiative was finalized after months of negotiation and will facilitate the safe passage of hundreds of ships, including an estimated 11,000 seafarers currently stranded in the Gulf.
The IMO announced Tuesday that vessels have started utilizing the scheme, but the agency declined to provide specifics about the identities or numbers of ships that have passed so far. Independent shipping data from LSEG and MarineTraffic confirmed that in the previous 12 hours, at least two dry bulk carriers and one cargo ship had transited the strait under the arrangement. Additionally, three oil tankers carrying approximately 5 million barrels of crude, two of which are bound for Asia, were recorded exiting the area, though it remains unclear whether these vessels used the new route system.
Overall, data monitoring indicates around 35 smaller vessels—including dry bulk, cargo, and container ships—along with five oil tankers and tugboats are preparing to navigate the strait under the plan. The arrangement permits use of two temporary transit corridors: a northern passage through Iranian waters and a southern route governed by Omani and U.S. coordination. The IMO stressed that ships should await formal instructions before proceeding to avoid congestion, stating, “Crowding the waiting area will only result in the need to pause further notifications for the safety of navigation.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial conduit for global energy supplies, has been affected by increased security risks, including threats from naval mines, which have rendered the central section of the strait unsafe for transit. The IMO’s Traffic Separation Scheme, established in 1968 to designate specific routing lanes through Iranian and Omani waters, is currently limited to these two safe corridors.
Ship traffic through Hormuz has recently increased, with average daily transits rising to more than 25 vessels compared with roughly 10 to 11 ships previously, yet river data still falls well below the pre-conflict average of about 125 ships daily before fighting erupted on February 28. Some movements may be underreported due to disrupted Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals or vessels opting not to display their positions publicly.
Market estimates, supported by IMO figures, place the number of ships stranded inside the Gulf at between 500 and 600, including around 100 tankers. The U.S. military has also undertaken missions in recent weeks to assist with the safe exit of ships trapped in the strait. However, the IMO’s new framework does not apply to vessels seeking entry into the Gulf to load oil cargoes from producers there.
Maritime risk management firm Vanguard commented that the framework responded to worsening navigational safety and heightened collision risks in the strait. It emphasized that vessel operators remain responsible for conducting independent voyage risk assessments and noted that ship movements may be halted at any time to address safety, security, or naval deconfliction needs.
Meanwhile, rates for oil tanker charters have surged amid constrained availability and ongoing safety concerns, including the persistent threat posed by floating mines.