Seatrade-Maritime: Trump announces Hormuz evacuation plan for stranded ships

Published by Seatrade-Maritime

US President Donald Trump said its military forces plan to a safely guide ships stranded in the Arabian Gulf out through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post of Truth Social said countries from all over the world not involved in the US – Israel war with Iran had asked the US for help freeing their ships. Following the start of the conflict on 28 February Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping leaving close to 1,000 international trading vessels and 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf.

“We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump said.

“I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else. This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning [4 May], Middle East time.”

The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) provided details in an advisory which said the US had established an enhanced security area to the south of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Strait of Hormuz on Omani territorial waters.

Vessels transiting were advised to maintain coordination with the Oman authorities via VHF channel 16.

“Transit via or in close proximity to the Traffic Separation Scheme should be considered extremely hazardous due the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated,” JMIC warned.

President Trump described it as a “humanitarian gesture” on behalf of the US, Middle East countries, and in particular Iran. While saying it was a humanitarian gesture by Iran he also threatened against any interference. “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully,” he stated.

US Central Command issued a statement saying its forces would begin to support Project Freedom on 4 May. It framed the mission as a move to restore “freedom of navigation” rather than a humanitarian effort to safely guide ships currently stranded in the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, Centcom Commander.

It said US military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.

The announcement came as Iran renewed attacks on commercial ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. A tanker was hit by unknown projectiles 78 nm north of Fujairah at 19:40 hrs UTC on 3 May, and a bulker attacked by multiple small vessels 11 nm west of Sirik in Iran while northbound towards the Strait of Hormuz at 11:30 hrs UTC on 3 May.