Strait of Hormuz Gradually Resumes Operations: Positive Signals Amid Regulatory Disputes

Source: Splash247

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is beginning to tick upward, delivering the first positive signals for the revival of commercial shipping in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. This development unfolds as thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the area and transit through the strait remains under strict security controls.

Maritime risk analytics firm Windward assessed yesterday’s surge in vessel traffic as the "the clearest sign yet" that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is making a phased return to normalcy.

Windward's data indicated that by 09:39 UTC, 31 transits had been confirmed, representing a 48% increase compared to the previous day. This improvement follows the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) announcement of an evacuation plan for vessels stranded in the area, alongside Oman's declaration of six authorized eastbound maritime reference points. This marks the first officially announced safe corridor since transit through Hormuz was severely disrupted earlier this year.

Disputes Over Routing Mechanisms Remain Unresolved

Despite the signs of traffic recovery, maritime operations in Hormuz are still far from normal as friction over routing mechanisms persists.

Over the past 24 hours, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) publicly rejected the temporary maritime routes backed by Oman and the IMO, warning vessels against utilizing corridors not approved by Iranian authorities.

According to the Mehr News Agency, the IRGCN asserted that safe transit through Hormuz should only be conducted via Iran-designated routes. The naval force stated that the announcement of new shipping lanes without coordination with Tehran is "unacceptable and extremely dangerous."

The IRGCN also demanded that all vessels contact Iranian naval forces on VHF Channel 16 prior to transiting the strait, warning that non-compliance could result in enforcement measures.

IMO Deploys Large-Scale Evacuation Campaign

In tandem with efforts to restore maritime transit, the IMO is overseeing one of the largest seafarer evacuation campaigns in years to assist over 11,000 crew members stuck on vessels inside the Gulf.

Under current guidelines, shipowners are advised against unauthorized movement until they receive direct instructions from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) or the French-coordinated MICA Center (Maritime Information Cooperation & Awareness).

Departures are being scheduled within specific windows to prevent maritime gridlock while mitigating risks related to sea mines, damaged navigational aids, and high traffic density in the area.

In its guidance document to the maritime community, the IMO emphasized: "The key message to shipmasters right now is: do not move."

Vessels are permitted to sail only after being allocated a departure slot. They will then be directed to staging areas before being funneled through either the northern route via Iranian waters or the southern route coordinated by Oman and the US.

The IMO also noted that the standard Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) is currently not deemed safe due to lingering mine risks. Consequently, all transits must strictly follow the temporary corridors established by consensus among littoral states.

Despite the maritime safety commitments made, the IMO warned that the traffic restoration process could be delayed or suspended if the regional security situation deteriorates.

Day of the Seafarer and the First Signs of Relief

The phased reopening of the Strait of Hormuz coincided with the IMO’s celebration of the Day of the Seafarer, which carried the theme: "Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks."

On this occasion, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez paid tribute to the roughly 1.8 million seafarers worldwide, reiterating that the safety of maritime workers remains the organization's highest priority.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also reflected on the crisis, stating: "When nations clash, seafarers are often caught in the crossfire."

He added: "Recent events in the Strait of Hormuz have seen tens of thousands of seafarers stranded as they work far from home to keep the world fuelled and fed. Mariners must never be the victims or pawns of geopolitical conflict."

Meanwhile, some positive developments have emerged for crews affected by the crisis. Officials in Ukraine and the Philippines confirmed that Iran has begun releasing crew members from the Greek-managed container ship Epimonidas, which was seized in April while attempting to cross Hormuz.

To date, four Ukrainian and four Filipino seafarers have returned home safely, with the remaining crew members expected to be repatriated shortly.

The 6,690-TEU vessel is one of two container ships operated by MSC that were seized by Iranian forces under allegations of entering the strait without proper authorization.

See more:

• IMO Launches Plan to Evacuate Over 11,000 Seafarers Stranded in the Strait of Hormuz
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Source: Phaata.com (According to Splash247)

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