800 Ships Stranded As Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked
Amid ongoing but uncertain ceasefire talks, Iran’s naval forces have delivered a firm warning: any ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz without explicit authorisation “will be engaged and destroyed.”
This stark warning comes after a recent incident in which a container vessel was hit by an unknown projectile about 25 nautical miles south of Kish Island. Reports from UK Maritime Trade Operations indicate the damage was limited to areas above the waterline, and no crew were harmed. Still, the incident highlights the tense environment and the growing dangers for commercial shipping in the region.
Since late February, traffic through this vital global shipping corridor has been largely halted. Roughly 800 vessels are currently stuck inside the Persian Gulf, including nearly 450 tankers and other energy carriers. By the end of March, a United Nations body estimated that around 20,000 seafarers remained stranded onboard, dealing with limited supplies and mounting mental stress.
With recent reports suggesting a possible ceasefire, more than 1,000 ships are gathered to enter or exit the Strait, particularly around Dubai and Khor Fakkan in the Gulf of Oman. Despite this, only about 10 to 12 vessels reportedly passed through the Strait yesterday – far below the usual daily figure of 100 to 150 before tensions escalated.
Killick Martin’s team continues to closely follow the situation.
