Some ships refusing US-military guided Hormuz transits after attacks, sources say
Written by: Jonathan Saul and Renee Maltezou
LONDON/ATHENS, July 15 (Reuters) – Shipping companies are refraining from using a U.S. military-guided transit plan in the Strait of Hormuz after a series of Iranian attacks on ships raised security concerns, seven maritime security and maritime industry sources said.
For decades, ships have been entering and exiting the Gulf using safe lanes running down the middle of the strait, called the Traffic Separation Scheme by the UN shipping agency in 1968.
Since the start of the Iran war on February 28, Iranian forces have mined this area, forcing ships to use one of two makeshift routes near the Iranian or Omani coasts.
WE HELP GULF ENERGY EXPORTS FLOW
In June, Reuters reported that the U.S. military was assisting the ships by using air and water drones as well as helicopters to divert tankers as part of an operation that involved multiple secret ship-to-ship transfers of oil to maintain Gulf energy exports.
The US-backed initiative has enabled the export of tens of millions of barrels of oil, helping to cushion the impact on energy prices of the largest ever disruption to oil and gas supplies.
But shippers consider the route on the Omani side of the strait increasingly dangerous following a wave of attacks on ships.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for attacks on two Emirati oil tankers on Tuesday.
About five ships (three crude supertankers, one LNG tanker and one container ship) have been attacked in Omani waters covered by the US plan since July 7, according to an analysis of events based on data from the UN maritime agency.
Sources said it was unclear whether all ships set out according to the US plan.
“The US does not appear to have any control over the situation,” a maritime source said, adding that their companies had opted not to sail through the strait due to crew safety concerns and the deteriorating security situation.
“Iran’s continued ability to target ships sailing via the Oman route means the Trump administration’s proposed solution to keep ships moving will not work,” said Torbjorn Solvedt, chief Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tensions escalate as US reimposes blockade
A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than 100 ships have coordinated directly with the US military to pass through the strait in the past seven days, and more generally, more than 300 ships have passed through the region; This is proof that U.S.-led efforts are working, even if volumes remain below pre-war levels.
Iran threatened to further halt regional energy exports on Wednesday after the United States reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports and launched more attacks as both sides race for control of the strait.
Tehran is signaling it may use its Houthi allies in Yemen to close the Bab al-Mandeb to the Red Sea, opening a new front against Washington and putting two of the world’s most vital shipping arteries at risk.
About nine LNG tankers operated by Greece, which were heading to the Gulf via Hormuz to load cargo last week, were stuck in the strait due to safety concerns, another shipping source said.
Since July 7, two more tankers have been attacked in open waters outside the Bosphorus.
TRUMP SAID THE THROAT IS OPEN
The Strait of Hormuz is “open to ALL ship traffic except Iran,” US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
The United States reimposed the blockade on Iran-linked ships on Tuesday.
Last week, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center raised its rating on the risks to ships in the strait from “substantial” to “serious” and the highest level, “critical”.
The increased risk rating follows attacks on three tankers.
A memo issued by the US Navy after the US-coordinated plan was launched last month advised companies that “efforts will be made to advise ship crews, but they may not be able to communicate threats to ships in real time.”
Five of the sources said the U.S. military had not provided sufficient clarity about the risks faced by ships passing the Oman route.
“They stated that the Strait of Hormuz was ‘not closed’ and was open for use,” a maritime security source said. he said. “This makes operators nervous and uncertain. While they all need to do their own risk assessments, it’s clearly not safe, so why would we say it’s open?”
Greek maritime security company Diaplous said in an advisory published on Tuesday that the threat environment remained high and advised shipping companies to pause their sailings until Saturday.
MARISKS, another Greek maritime security company, also said in a separate advisory meeting on Tuesday: “At this stage, there is no assurance that transits through the Strait of Hormuz can be carried out at an acceptable level of security.”
(Reporting by Jonathan Saul, Renee Maltezou and Maha El Dahan, additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Idrees Ali, editing by Simon Webb and Jason Neely)
