Shipping lines cautious about Iran’s announcement of Strait of Hormuz opening, but say clarification is neededincluding the risk of landmines, Before the vessel passes the bay entry point.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday the Strait of Hormuz would be open to all commercial shipping during Lebanon’s 10-day ceasefire, sending oil and other commodity prices lower while stocks rose.
Senior Iranian officials told Reuters that all commercial ships, including U.S. vessels, could pass through the strait, although their plans would need to be coordinated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Transits will be limited to routes deemed safe by Iran, the official said, adding that warships remain banned.
“We are currently verifying the recent announcement on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure that it adheres to the freedom of navigation and safe passage of all commercial vessels,” said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the U.N. shipping agency International Maritime Organization.
The Norwegian Shipowners Association said several things must be clarified before any ship can pass through the strait, including the presence of mines, the situation in Iran and actual implementation.
“If this represents a step towards openness, it is a welcome development,” said Knut Arild Hareide, chief executive of the association, which represents 130 companies and about 1,500 ships.
Shipping association BIMCO warned members to return to the Channel.
Jakob Larsen, BIMCO’s chief safety officer, said: “The status of the mine threat… is unclear and BIMCO believes shipping lines should consider avoiding the area.”
A U.S. Navy advisory seen by Reuters said the threat posed by mines in parts of the strait is not fully understood and ships should be considered avoiding the area return said Friday.
German shipping group Hapag-Lloyd said It said on Friday it was working to get its ships through the strait “as quickly as possible” but added that some problems remained.
“Our crisis committee is meeting and will work to resolve all outstanding issues with relevant parties over the next 24 to 36 hours,” it added.
Its Danish counterpart Maersk explain It is closely monitoring the security situation and will take action based on risk assessments.
France’s CMA CGMND Norwegian tanker group Frontline declined to comment.
Matt Wright, chief cargo analyst at data intelligence firm Kpler, said Tehran’s recent imposition of a route in territorial waters near Larak Island would create navigational challenges and raise compliance and insurance issues even if ships do not have to pay tolls.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran had agreed not to close the strait and that it was clearing the strait of mines.
Disruption in the strait, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, has forced shipping companies to suspend sailings, reroute cargo and rely on costly solutions to keep cargo in and out of the gulf.
(Reporting by Jesus Calero in Gdańsk, Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt, Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen and Gus Trompiz in Paris; Writing by Louise Rasmussen and Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by Terje Solsvik, Louise Heavens and Jason Neely)
