Key facts
- Shipping companies are avoiding a U.S. military-guided transit scheme through the Strait of Hormuz due to Iranian attacks.
- Heightened risks in the Strait of Hormuz have led to concerns over crew safety and potential increases in shipping costs.
- Iran has mined areas of the strait, forcing vessels to use alternative routes.
- The U.S. military has been assisting ships, but shippers question its control over the situation.
- The U.S. Navy's Joint Maritime Information Center has rated the threat level in the strait as 'severe'.
Shipping companies are increasingly avoiding a U.S. military-guided transit scheme through the Strait of Hormuz following a wave of Iranian attacks on vessels, according to industry sources. For decades, ships have used established lanes in the strait, but recent actions by Iranian forces, including mining the area, have forced vessels onto makeshift routes closer to the coast.
The U.S. military has been involved in operations to keep Gulf energy exports flowing, assisting ships through the strait. However, shippers are evaluating the routes, particularly on the Omani side, as increasingly dangerous due to the attacks. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have claimed responsibility for recent assaults on oil supertankers.
Some five ships have been attacked since July 7, with concerns rising about crew safety and the effectiveness of U.S. efforts to manage the situation. While a U.S. defense official cited significant vessel coordination with the military, Iran has threatened further action and the U.S. has re-imposed a naval blockade on Iran-linked shipping. The U.S. Navy's Joint Maritime Information Center has raised the risk level for ships in the strait to 'severe,' prompting maritime security firms to advise caution and potential pauses in voyages.