The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Oman have activated a temporary maritime corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, and the first commercial vessels have already transited the waterway under the new evacuation scheme. According to IMO and Omani authorities, ships are using two designated routes: a northern lane passing through Iranian waters and a southern lane coordinated by Oman and the United States. Ship-tracking data analysed by Reuters and LSEG shows at least two dry bulk carriers and one cargo vessel crossed in the initial 12-hour window, while more than 35 other commercial ships — mostly dry bulk, cargo and container vessels — were preparing to follow. The US energy secretary stated that 72 ships carrying 20 million barrels of oil moved through the strait in a single day.

Oman’s maritime security centre said the initiative reflects the Sultanate’s responsibilities towards a chokepoint vital to the global economy and its commitment to international law and freedom of navigation. The temporary corridor was established in coordination with the IMO and is explicitly toll-free, a stance Muscat says aligns with understandings reached between Washington and Tehran. Iran and Oman have simultaneously launched a joint working group to negotiate the future administration of navigation and maritime services in the strait, including any costs that might apply after the current 60-day grace period expires. Viewed from Tehran, the arrangement operationalises Article 5 of the Islamabad Understanding, the ceasefire framework signed electronically by the Iranian and US presidents on 18 June, under which Iran committed to ensuring safe, no-cost passage for commercial vessels between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman for an initial two months.

The evacuation plan aims to clear a backlog that, by some industry estimates, has left more than 1,200 vessels with cargoes worth roughly $125 billion stranded in the Gulf, alongside some 11,000 seafarers. The IMO has adopted a phased approach: vessels are grouped, contacted individually with departure instructions, and directed to a designated waiting area in international waters before being cleared to proceed. The existing Traffic Separation Scheme, in place since 1968, is currently deemed unsafe by Omani and IMO assessments due to the elevated risk of collisions and the suspected presence of mines. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre has maintained a “moderate” threat level and advised masters to coordinate with US naval forces, while the IMO says it has secured safety guarantees and verified conditions for navigation.

The Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, had been effectively blocked to most international commercial traffic since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on 28 February. During the months of disruption, more than 40 vessels were struck by missiles and drones, 14 seafarers were killed, and benchmark Brent crude rose from $78 to a peak of $114 per barrel before falling back below $76 as the ceasefire took hold. Previous attempts to force a reopening through the UN Security Council were blocked by Russia, China and France. With the corridor now operational, the immediate focus is on a controlled, gradual evacuation; parallel talks between Iran, Oman and other Gulf coastal states will determine the long-term governance of the waterway, while mine-clearance operations continue.