The United Nations' shipping agency has begun an evacuation operation for around 11,000 seafarers stranded aboard hundreds of vessels in the Gulf. The move comes after Iran and the United States reached a ceasefire agreement, creating conditions for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

A spokesperson for the U.N.'s International Maritime Organisation (IMO) confirmed on Tuesday that the process had started. "We have now started contacting the ships to start the evacuation," the spokesperson said, without providing a timeline for the operation.

According to the IMO, the required safety assurances have been secured, and navigation conditions have been verified. This has allowed the agency to move forward with the long-discussed evacuation plan.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation would involve close coordination among regional and international stakeholders. "This large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry," he said in a statement.

Oman's Defence Ministry also issued an advisory regarding the evacuation process. The ministry said the operation would be carried out in phases to reduce risks and ensure the safe movement of vessels through the busy waterway.

"Given the elevated risk of collision in the current environment, a gradual and controlled evacuation of vessel traffic is required," the advisory stated.

The ministry further noted that the existing Traffic Separation Scheme is currently unsafe for navigation. Instead, two temporary routes located north and south of the scheme have been designated for the evacuation process.

"Vessels will be contacted individually and advised of their allocated transit day by the parties coordinated by IMO," the ministry advisory said.

The Traffic Separation Scheme was adopted by the IMO in 1968. It established designated shipping lanes through Iranian and Omani waters in the Strait of Hormuz to regulate maritime traffic.

Despite the ceasefire, safety concerns remain in the region. One of the biggest threats to ships operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz is the presence of floating mines, which continue to pose serious navigation risks.

The evacuation plan has been under discussion for several months. With safety guarantees now in place, authorities hope the operation will allow stranded vessels and their crews to leave the area in a controlled and secure manner.