Uncertainty at the Strait of Hormuz: Fleets of Commercial Vessels Make Sudden U-Turns

Source: Seatrade Maritime

The global shipping industry is facing mounting uncertainty at the Strait of Hormuz. This development unfolds even after Iran and US President Donald Trump announced on April 17 that the strait was fully open to commercial vessels.

In reality, although an increasing number of tankers and container ships are attempting to navigate out of the Arabian Gulf, a significant portion of these vessels are being forced to turn around or drop anchor as they approach Iranian waters, just off Larak Island.

AIS Data: Mass and Sudden Route Diversions

AIS tracking data from Pole Star Global reveals that as of 04:30 UTC, at least seven vessels had to make U-turns before eventually heading westbound.

Notably, among the vessels turning back or loitering in the area are CMA CGM container ships, including the India-flagged CMA CGM Manaus and the France-flagged CMA CGM Everglade.

In the tanker and dry bulk segments, a slew of vessels exhibited similar behavior. The Aframax tanker Desh Suraksha and the VLCC Sanmar Herald (both India-flagged), the bulk carrier Jag Arnav (India-flagged), the tanker Seaway (Panama-flagged), and the tanker NV Aquamarine (Vietnam-flagged) all turned back before re-orienting toward the strait. Specifically, the NV Aquamarine was recorded nearing the completion of its transit at the time of reporting.

The exact reason for these U-turns remains unclear—whether they received warnings not to proceed or were awaiting clearance from Iran. Meanwhile, three tankers—the Torin (Panama), Raine (Guinea), and Gardian (Angola)—appear to be actively transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with a growing queue of other vessels heading toward this vital waterway.

Iranian Warnings and the Threat of Route Closure

On the X platform, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted a message asserting that transiting the Strait of Hormuz must be conducted via a "designated route" and requires "Iran's permission." This designated route lies north of the conventional Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS)—an area previously reported to have been mined.

Ghalibaf also delivered a stern warning: If the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open.

Stringent Perspectives from Maritime Organizations

Many industry players maintain an extremely cautious stance regarding sending vessels through the chokepoint. BIMCO, the international shipping association, described US President Trump's declaration of a fully open strait as "inaccurate," while warning of the risk that the route may have been mined.

Jakob Larsen, Head of Maritime Safety & Security at BIMCO, emphasized: "The status of mine threats in the Traffic Separation Scheme is unclear and Bimco believes shipping companies should consider avoiding the area. This means that the TSS is not declared safe for transit at this point."

Echoing this cautious sentiment, Thomas A. Kazakos, representing the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), stated: "While this announcement is a positive step there is still much uncertainty around what it means in practice. Regardless it is essential that it marks the beginning of a broader and more durable return, beyond the current ceasefire, to freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors."

Reactions from Ocean Giants Maersk and CMA CGM

Caution is the overarching strategy. While CMA CGM vessels were recorded attempting to navigate the strait on April 18, shipping giant Maersk has adopted an extremely careful approach.

In an operational update on April 17, Maersk acknowledged the reports of the strait's reopening but affirmed: "The safety of our crew, vessels and customers’ cargo remains our priority. Since the outbreak of the conflict, we have followed the guidance of our security partners in the region, and the recommendation so far has been to avoid transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Any decision to transit the strait will be based on risk assessments and close monitoring of the security situation, with the latest developments also included in the ongoing assessments."

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Seatrade Maritime)

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