The strait has become a global flashpoint that has driven up oil prices, endangering the safety of ships and sailors while damaging regional stability.
why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea corridor between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman through which countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates export oil and gas.
Even limited disruption may occur:
- surge in energy prices
- Delays in global supply chains
- increase geopolitical tensions
What’s happening with shipping right now?
Shipping through the strait – only 39 kilometers (21 nautical miles) at its narrowest point – has been severely disrupted since the beginning of the conflict in late February.
According to the United Nations Special Maritime Agency, International Maritime Organization (imo), before the conflict, about 150 ships passed through the waterway every day.
Once the conflict began with the threat of attack, this figure dropped to only four or five ships a day, and only those ships that Iranian officials considered “non-hostile”.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, it is still unclear whether the strait will reopen to all shipping.
How unsafe are ships?
The IMO has estimated that about 2,000 ships, including oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, cargo ships – as well as six tourist cruise liners – are stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to pass through the strait.
It is believed that there are currently around 20,000 sailors aboard those ships.
There have been 21 confirmed attacks on international shipping in the region, killing 10 sailors and injuring several sailors. according to imo.
Two sailors work on the deck of a ship. (file)
“The ceasefire is welcome news for the 20,000 seafarers who are awaiting evacuation on ships remaining in the Persian Gulf,” said Damien Chevalier, director of IMO’s Maritime Safety Division. “They have spent more than a month in a tense and unstable situation, unable to leave their ships,” he said.
safe evacuation of sailors
The IMO is already working with relevant parties to put in place “appropriate mechanisms to ensure the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr Chevalier said.
“The priority now is to ensure safety of navigation to guarantee evacuation. We do not want to see a return of the surge. So, for now, we need to focus on evacuation,” he said.
What does international law say?
The legal framework for all maritime activities is set out in a multilateral treaty known as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
key principles
- Ships have the right of “transit passage” through international straits
- Coastal states must not block or impede navigation
In clear words, the strait must remain open to international shipping.
However, there is one major caveat. Iran is not a party to UNCLOS, but the transit route system is generally considered part of international customary law.
Will shipping resume – and how?
There is international will to reopen the strait but “ship operators will need to carefully assess the risk situation,” said IMO’s Damien Chevalier, adding that “the resumption of regular trade will depend on the maritime security situation.”
Ships follow an internationally agreed route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the United Nations and partners are engaged in diplomatic discussions to find a safe, secure and efficient way for ships to pass through the strait.
Shipping is expected to resume via long-established routes, the main mechanism for which is the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).
Proposed by Iran and Oman and adopted by the IMO in 1968, it designates shipping lanes for maritime traffic:
- reduce conflict
- improve security
- Maintain predictable transit even during times of international tension
Some ships passing through the Gulf of Oman in the past month have taken a northern route closer to Iran, reportedly so authorities there can more closely monitor their movements.
What next?
Success in reopening the Strait of Hormuz ultimately depends on the conduct of the ceasefire, the functioning of diplomacy, maritime coordination and full respect of internationally agreed navigation rules.
