Why is it important
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime corridor between Iran and Oman linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman through which countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates export oil and gas.
Even a limited interruption can:
- Rising energy prices
- Slow down global supply chains
- Increase geopolitical tensions
What is happening with shipping right now?
Shipping through the strait – just 39 kilometers (21 nautical miles) at its narrowest point – has been severely disrupted since the start of the conflict in late February.
According to the UN’s specialized maritime agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), before the conflict, around 150 ships passed through the waterway each day.
With the threat of attack once the conflict broke out, that figure was reduced to just four or five ships a day, and only those that Iranian authorities considered “non-hostile.”
It is still unclear if or when the strait will reopen to all shipping, despite the ceasefire announcement.
How vulnerable are ships?
The IMO has estimated that there are about 2,000 ships, including oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, cargo ships – as well as six tourist cruise ships – stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to cross the strait.
It is believed that there are currently around 20,000 seafarers on board these vessels.
According to the IMO, 21 attacks against international shipping have been confirmed in the region, with 10 sailors dead and several injured.
Two sailors work on the deck of a ship. (archive)
“The ceasefire is good news for the 20,000 seafarers waiting to be evacuated on ships remaining in the Persian Gulf,” said Damien Chevallier, Director of the IMO Maritime Safety Division, adding that “they have spent more than a month in a tense and volatile situation, unable to leave their ships.”
Safe evacuation of seafarers
The IMO is already working with relevant parties to implement an “appropriate mechanism to ensure the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” Chevallier said.
“The priority now is to ensure safe navigation to ensure an evacuation. We do not wish to see a return to escalation. So, for now, we must focus on evacuation,” he added.
What does international law say?
The legal framework for all maritime activities is established 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 disrupt navigation.
In simple terms, the strait must remain open to international shipping.
However, there is an important caveat. Iran is not a Party to UNCLOS, but the transit passage system is generally considered part of customary international law.
Will shipments resume and how?
There is international will to reopen the strait, but “ship operators will have to carefully assess the risk situation,” said the IMO’s Damien Chevallier, adding that “the resumption of routine trade will depend on the maritime security situation.”
The ships follow an internationally agreed route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the UN and its partners are engaging in diplomatic talks to find a safe and efficient way for ships to pass through the strait.
Maritime transportation is expected to resume along long-established routes, the key mechanism of which is the Traffic Separation System (TSS).
Proposed by Iran and Oman and adopted by the IMO in 1968, it designates sea routes for maritime traffic in order to:
- Reduce collisions
- Improve security
- Maintain predictable traffic even in times of international tension.
The few vessels that have transited into the Gulf of Oman over the past month have taken a northern route, near Iran, supposedly so that authorities in that country can more closely monitor their movements.
What’s next?
The successful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz ultimately depends on maintaining the ceasefire, diplomatic work, maritime coordination and full respect for internationally agreed navigation rules.