The evacuation of approximately 11,000 seafarers trapped in the Strait of Hormuz is expected to take several weeks to complete, according to reports from Dutch media outlet NU.nl.
The extended timeline underscores the logistical complexity of the operation and suggests that the strategic chokepoint will remain under significant operational strain in the near term.
This development complicates the narrative of a swift return to normalcy in global shipping lanes.
While a large-scale evacuation plan backed by both Iran and the United States has been initiated, the protracted nature of the crew extraction indicates that the Strait will not be fully cleared of humanitarian and logistical bottlenecks quickly.
For traders, this means that the risk premium embedded in energy and freight markets is unlikely to dissipate rapidly.
The prolonged evacuation comes amid fragile geopolitical stability in the region.