Hormuz shipping normalcy elusive until mines cleared: Report

The Guardian reported on Friday that approximately 80 mines still block the central shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz, rendering the primary transit route impassable despite a recent US-Iran agreement that allowed several vessels to exit the Gulf on Thursday. Phil Belcher, marine director at tanker trade body Intertanko, told the newspaper that vessels are currently forced to navigate a narrow southern passage along Oman’s coastline, increasing risks of grounding and collision due to congestion. Belcher said the standard route between Iran and Oman remains closed and dangerous.

Unsafe conditions persist

"The main route … through the middle of the Strait of Hormuz, that’s closed, that’s dangerous," Belcher said. "The latest figure we had was that there’s 80 mines in the Strait of Hormuz. It’s an enormous amount and it’s going to take some time to clear," he added. The strait normally accommodates roughly 130 vessel transits daily and carries one-fifth of global oil shipments, though electronic navigation systems suffered disruption from signal jamming during the conflict.

Backlog and toll concerns

Nearly 600 vessels remain anchored in the Gulf after seeking shelter since February, creating a substantial backlog that will take time to dissipate, according to the report. Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List, told the Guardian that normal shipping operations may not resume this year. The industry is also monitoring Iran’s proposal to impose transit fees after a 60-day toll-free period expires under the recent memorandum.

A spokesperson for German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd told the newspaper that charging tolls in international waters would be "fundamentally wrong," distinguishing Hormuz from infrastructure-based routes like Suez or Panama. Industry officials fear such fees could establish a precedent for other chokepoints including the Strait of Malacca and the Taiwan Strait.