Summary of Key Points
The Strait of Hormuz has experienced disruptions in shipping due to the conflict between the United States and Iran. Although traffic has increased since a memorandum of understanding was reached, threats from mines and disputes over navigation rules remain unresolved. New practices have emerged, such as ships forming groups or choosing specific routes for passage. Gulf countries are adopting transshipment methods to mitigate risks. Negotiations between the US and Iran are stalled over issues related to control of the strait and tolls, while sailors trapped at sea face extreme temperatures and shortages of fresh water.
1. Shipping Has Recovered, but Risks Persist: Ships Must Form Groups and Choose Routes Carefully
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global oil transportation, handling one-fifth of the world's daily oil shipments. Previously, attacks on cargo and oil vessels and US military strikes against Iran led to a dramatic decline in traffic, with only 24 vessel crossings per day. Now, with the memorandum of understanding in place, 308 ships pass through the strait each week (the highest number since the conflict began), but the risks have not completely disappeared.
There are two main routes available:
- Northern Route: Closer to Iran and managed by the Iranian “Persian Gulf Strait Authority,” requiring a written security guarantee before passage (Mr. Shaw’s ship used this route).
- Southern Route: Closer to Oman and protected by US forces, but fewer ships have used it since the recent conflict.
Ships no longer travel alone; they form groups and wait on both sides of the strait to reduce the risk. Thousands of ships are still waiting: 2,732 in the Persian Gulf and 863 in the Gulf of Oman. Mr. Shaw described the situation as “with hundreds of ships waiting, not even a single empty spot available.”
2. Oil Transportation Adopting a “Relay Race” Approach: Gulf Countries Use Transshipment Methods
Due to the uncertainty of strait passage, Gulf countries have adopted a new strategy: they transport oil to ports outside the strait and then transfer it to other vessels for further shipment to destinations like India and Japan. For example, UAE uses super-large oil tankers to transport crude to Fujairah Port in Oman before transshipment.
This approach is adopted because the cost of shipping via these larger tankers has decreased, and shipowners are reluctant to take the risk of crossing the strait directly. This strategy has proven successful; Kuwait has already implemented it, and other countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Qatar may follow suit. It’s similar to changing transportation routes to avoid dangerous areas.
3. Negotiations Between the US and Iran Are Stalled: Deadlock Over Route Control and Toll Fees
Despite the memorandum of understanding, negotiations are at a standstill:
- Route Control: Iran insists that all ships must use its designated routes, threatening to take action otherwise; it also wants to negotiate new arrangements with Oman, opposing other routes. Oman is reluctant to get involved, and Trump has stated that the Iranian route is unacceptable.
- Toll Fees: Iran may seek to charge tolls for passage, while Oman’s foreign minister suggests discussing the possibility of charging for maritime services. Trump has explicitly rejected this idea, but it could be part of the ongoing negotiations.
Direct talks have failed, and discussions are now taking place indirectly in Doha, Qatar, with an uncertain outcome.
4. The Hardships Faced by Trapped Sailors: Extreme Heat and Fresh Water Shortages
The strait’s closure has caused significant hardships for sailors:
- Intense Heat: Daily temperatures exceed 38 degrees Celsius, making seawater too hot to use for drinking or washing. Fresh water on the ships must be heated, leaving sailors with limited options for hygiene.
- Resource Scarcity: While Mr. Shaw’s ship is well-prepared, other Chinese sailors are struggling with fresh water shortages, reducing meals from three to one per day. Fresh water costs $200 per ton (a 20-person ship requires 2-3 tons daily), forcing them to conserve it by using seawater for sanitation and rationing its use.
Sailors must continue to wait, unsure of when they will be able to pass through the strait.
This news report highlights the chaos caused by the conflict in a critical global transportation route. Power struggles between major nations affect shipping operations, and ordinary individuals (such as sailors) bear the brunt of these disruptions. Unless the issues in the Strait of Hormuz are resolved, the challenges for global oil transportation and sailors will persist.