Scouring the Strait of Hormuz for mines could take weeks
Western maritime security sources say mine clearance could take 40 to 50 days before insurers and shippers resume normal traffic.
- On Monday, UN shipping agency head Arsenio Dominguez welcomed the United States-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though mine clearance operations could continue for 40 to 50 days before companies resume transits.
- Dryad Global CEO Corey Ranslem estimates Iran possesses up to 1,000 naval mines, threatening the waterway that handled 20% of the world's daily oil and liquefied natural gas supply before the war.
- Group CEO Rene Kofod-Olsen of V.Group, which has 13 ships stuck in the Gulf, warned that "one sea mine is enough to have fatalities," underscoring industry risks.
- Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at BIMCO, cautioned that "we still consider it very risky for ships to commence transits," stressing that mine-free routes must be established.
- Britain, France, and Germany have dispatched minesweepers to the Middle East as global oil stockpiles head toward their lowest levels since at least 2003, according to the Energy Information Administration.
97 Articles
97 Articles
Global Shipping Groups Await Proof of Safety Before Resuming Hormuz Crossings
Confidence in resuming transit through the Strait of Hormuz could take weeks to rebuild, with navigation only likely to restart once safety is assured, according to shippers in Asia and Europe. U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday to end their war and reopen the strait. President Donald Trump has said there is a “safe, secure, and pristine” route through the strait, which has been…
Despite the positive expectations of the financial markets, the presence of naval mines and the very fragility of the agreement between the US and Iran indicate what situation should take time to return to normal
When US President Donald Trump announced that a memorandum of understanding would be signed between the US and Iran on Friday, he urged ships to start their engines. But clearing the strait of mines will take up to two months.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
