Ships Begin Sailing Through Strait of Hormuz Under UN Evacuation Plan as Oman Opens Alternative Lanes

Summary

The International Maritime Organization announced on June 24 that ships have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz under a new UN-brokered evacuation plan, enabling hundreds of vessels with approximately 11,000 stranded seafarers to exit the Persian Gulf. Oman simultaneously designated two temporary maritime corridors north and south of the existing shipping lane to facilitate safe passage without imposing any tolls. The breakthrough follows months of negotiations, though the Strait Crisis Stress Index remains elevated at 91/100 with full normalization not expected until mid-September 2026.