Hormuz moves from shutdown to managed recovery

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is gathering momentum, offering the strongest indication yet that commercial shipping is edging back towards normal operations after months of disruption, even as thousands of seafarers remain stranded and the waterway continues to operate under extraordinary restrictions. Maritime risk specialist Windward said vessel movements recorded yesterday marked “the clearest sign yet” that the strait is moving towards “functional commercial normalcy”. Transit volumes reached 31 confirmed passages by 09:39 UTC, representing a 48% increase from the previous day. The improvement follows the International Maritime Organization’s announcement of a coordinated evacuation plan for stranded vessels and Oman’s publication of six authorised eastbound waypoints – the first formal safe-passage routing established since the strait effectively closed earlier this year. Mariners must never be the victims or pawns of geopolitical conflict Despite the encouraging numbers, shipping remains far from business as usual with Tehran still issuing veiled threats. In the past 24 hours, the IRGC Navy has rejected the new Oman/IMO-backed temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and warned vessels not to use corridors that have not been designated by Iran. Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported today that the IRGC Navy said safe navigation through Hormuz is only possible on routes officially designated by the Islamic Republic of Iran. It said the announcement of a new shipping route without notifying or coordinating with Iran was “unacceptable and extremely dangerous”. The IRGC Navy also said vessels must coordinate with Iranian naval forces on VHF Channel 16 before transiting, and warned that any ship breaching the regulations would face enforcement action. The IMO is overseeing what is effectively one of the largest coordinated maritime evacuations in recent history, seeking to move more than 11,000 seafarers aboard vessels stranded inside the Gulf. Shipowners have been instructed not to move until contacted by UKMTO or the French-led MICA Centre, with departures being carefully sequenced to minimise congestion and reduce the risks posed by mines, damaged navigation infrastructure and high traffic density. “The key message to shipmasters right now is: do not move,” the IMO said in guidance issued to the industry. Vessels will only proceed once allocated a departure slot before being directed to a designated waiting area and assigned either the northern route through Iranian waters or the southern route coordinated by Oman and the United States. The organisation stressed that the existing traffic separation scheme remains unsafe because of reported mine risks, meaning all movements must follow newly established temporary corridors coordinated by coastal states. While safety assurances have been secured, the IMO warned that movements could still be delayed or suspended should conditions deteriorate. The slow reopening comes as the IMO marks today’s Day of the Seafarer with a pointed message highlighting the human cost of geopolitical conflict. Under the theme Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks., secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez thanked the world’s 1.8m seafarers while stressing that their safety remained the organisation’s highest priority. UN secretary-general António Guterres struck a similar tone. “When nations clash, seafarers are often caught in the crossfire,” Guterres said. “Recent events in the Strait of Hormuz have seen tens of thousands of seafarers stranded as they work far from home to keep the world fuelled and fed. Mariners must never be the victims or pawns of geopolitical conflict.” There was some positive news for crews caught up in the crisis this week. Authorities in both Ukraine and the Philippines confirmed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has begun releasing crewmembers from the Greek-managed containership Epimonidas, which was seized in April after attempting to transit Hormuz. Four Ukrainian and four Filipino seafarers have now returned home, with additional crew expected to be repatriated in the coming days. The 6,690 teu vessel was one of two MSC-operated containerships intercepted by Iranian forces, which alleged the ships had attempted to enter the strait without permission. Sam Chambers Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune. Read Next June 26, 2026 90 days to Splash Singapore June 25, 2026 Gard report finds routine work behind most seafarer injuries June 25, 2026 Global Ship Lease confirms expanded