Two Japanese-related ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and attack occurs while IMO evacuation plan is suspended

At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 26th, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yasuyuki Kaneko announced that two Japanese-related vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz. There were no health problems for the crew members, and there were no abnormalities in the ship's hull. The number of Japanese-related vessels in the Persian Gulf has increased to 35. It appears to be part of an evacuation plan from the Strait of Hormuz initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has not disclosed details as it prioritizes safety.

Following the cease-fire agreement between the United States and Iran, the IMO announced on the 23rd that it will implement an evacuation plan for more than 11,000 sailors on ships stuck in the Persian Gulf. The project will be undertaken in cooperation with Oman, Iran, the United States, coastal states and the shipping industry. Japan has a history of leading the "safety corridor" proposal after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Oman's notification, a temporary "evacuation route" will be established south of the Strait of Hormuz that will not impose tolls. "Safety of navigation remains our top priority," it said, adding, "Given the increased risk of collision, a phased and controlled evacuation is necessary."

Several ships subsequently succeeded in evacuating, but on the 25th, the IMO announced a temporary suspension of evacuations due to attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman. It appears that transit is currently at a standstill.