The head of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has announced that the body will begin implementing its evacuation plan to move thousands of seafarers out of the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the IMO says, “We will begin the implementation of the evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the region. 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.”