Situation in Iran and Middle East Region

This page is intended to provide Members with updates, details and links to the latest alerts and advisories available from the Club and other sources of intelligence.

Strait of Hormuz – Update for Members

IMO coordinated evacuation process

On June 23 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced the commencement of a coordinated evacuation process to facilitate the safe and controlled movement of vessels and seafarers currently affected by disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, with the process intended to support the phased departure of vessels from the Persian Gulf.

According to the IMO, the operation followed recent diplomatic developments and will be conducted in close coordination with coastal States, regional partners and the maritime industry, with safety assurances and navigational conditions having been reviewed in advance of implementation.

In support of this process, an IMO aligned framework was to be implemented to enable a phased and prioritised departure of vessels from the region, with participating ships expected to receive individual instructions regarding routing and transit timing. 

The associated navigation guidance issued via Coastal State Notices to Mariners indicated that:

• A phased, controlled evacuation of vessel traffic would be adopted to mitigate safety risks in the current operating environment 
• The conventional Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) is presently not considered safe for use, with temporary routing arrangements identified to the north and south of the TSS 
• Vessels would be allocated departure windows and instructed individually by the coordinating authorities 

The UKMTO ADVISORY-073-26 confirmed that UKMTO would support this IMO coordinated process, including the identification of vessels for potential planning batches and the dissemination of relevant operational information. It further emphasised that participation is voluntary, and that all decisions on routing, timing and movement remain with the Master and owners.

Since the initial announcement, and following an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, the IMO took the decision on 25 June to temporarily pause its evacuation operation pending further clarity.

Members with vessels operating in or intending to transit the region may wish to note that:

• Engagement with the IMO/UKMTO process should be viewed as an information led coordination mechanism, rather than a defined or guaranteed transit solution
• Routing remains dynamic, with deviation from established TSS arrangements and reliance on temporary corridors
• The evolving operating environment continues to warrant case by case assessment, taking account of prevailing security, navigational and regulatory constraints
• Close monitoring of IMO communications, coastal State Notices to Mariners, and JMIC advisories remains appropriate

As reflected in the UKMTO advisory, operators are encouraged to maintain reporting within the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) and to undertake appropriate risk assessments prior to any vessel movement.

The Club will continue to monitor developments closely and circulate further updates as additional clarity becomes available. Members should continue to exercise prudent judgement, taking into account the evolving operational context and any direct instructions received through official channels.