Logistical Nightmare Awaits 1500 Ships Stranded In Strait Of Hormuz Even After U.S-Iran Deal

The U.S. and Iran have finally begun negotiating regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz; however, naval experts said that even if a deal is reached, clearing the waterway of the 1500 stranded ships may take months, given that just 130 to 150 ships can pass through the strait every day under normal conditions.

There is a lot to decide before ships can move again, such as permits to obtain and from whom, deciding speed limits for ships, given that Iran has established a new agency to manage the strait, along with deciding which company’s ships will move first.

Vessels will also need guidance on the routes to take to prevent ship collisions, accidents and groundings, given that the strait is just 21 nm wide at its narrowest.

The danger of naval mines also looms large. British military officials have said that Iran has deployed mines that sit on the seafloor and send gas bubbles to the surface, which can seriously damage a ship’s hull.

Navies of the U.S and its allies like the U.K, France and Germany will need many weeks to deploy minesweepers to clear the strait and ensure it is safe for navigation, which will also keep the maritime insurance rates high, per the International Energy Agency.

If even one of the ships steps on a mine, it might block passage for other vessels through the narrow waterway.

These factors are the reason that oil and gas prices, which have soared in the U.S and most parts of the world, are not expected to fall fast.

Another issue is the buildup of barnacles, jellyfish and algae on the ships that can impede navigation.

Hapag-Lloyd has been able to get one ship out since the lockdown began. That ship required a lot of cleaning, Rolf Habben Jansen, the CEO, said on a company podcast.

“We also noticed that once we got her out, the maximum speed she could still achieve was significantly less than normal,” he added.

Lasse Kristoffersen, the CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said that it will take atleast 30 to 45 days until shipping in the region can return to normal, if everything goes as planned.