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Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
What if Iran tries to close the Strait of Hormuz?
What if Iran tries to close the Strait of Hormuz? Israeli aerial bombardment has wiped out much of Iran's ballistic missile capability and decapitated its military command, but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has refused to stop fighting, even promising 'irreparable damage' to the US if it intervenes in the conflict in support of its staunch ally. This has stoked speculation that Iran's leadership may reach for another way to pressure its enemies to relent – blocking or effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. This narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf handles around a quarter of the world's oil trade. So if Iran were able to deny access to the giant tankers that ferry oil and gas to China, Europe and other major energy consuming regions, it would send oil prices shooting higher and potentially destabilise the global economy. Iran has targeted merchant ships traversing the choke point in the past, and has even threatened to block the strait. The UK issued a rare warning to mariners days before Israel began bombarding Iran, saying increased tensions in the region could impact shipping, while Frontline, one of the world's largest oil-tanker operators, said it would be more cautious about offering its vessels to haul cargoes from the Persian Gulf. Where is the Strait of Hormuz? The waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, with Iran to its north and the United Arab Emirates and Oman to the south. It is almost 161km long and 34km wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lanes in each direction just 3km wide. Its shallow depth makes ships potentially vulnerable to mines, and the proximity to land – Iran, in particular – leaves vessels open to attack from shore-based missiles or interception by patrol boats and helicopters. The strait is essential to the global oil trade. Tankers hauled almost 16.5 million barrels per day of crude and condensate from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iran through the strait in 2024, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The strait is also crucial for liquefied natural gas, or LNG, with more than one-fifth of the world's supply – mostly from Qatar – passing through during the same period. Could Iran really block the Strait of Hormuz? Iran would have no legal authority to order a halt to traffic through Hormuz, so it would need to achieve this by force or the threat of force. If its navy tried to bar entry to the strait, it would likely be met with a strong response from the US Fifth Fleet and other Western navies patrolling the area. But it could cause severe disruption without a single Iranian warship leaving port. One option would be to harry shipping with small, fast patrol boats. Or it could launch drones and fire missiles toward ships from coastal or inland sites. That could make it too risky for commercial ships to venture through. Similar tactics have been employed successfully by the Houthi militia in Yemen to disrupt traffic through the Bab el Mandeb strait leading into the Red Sea on the other side of the Arabian peninsula. The Houthis have mostly fired missiles and drones at ships after warning owners of vessels linked to the US, the UK and Israel that they will be attacked if they approach the area. A US-led force in the Red Sea is seeking to protect shipping there. But the number of ships sailing through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden was still down about 70 per cent in June compared with the average level of 2022 and 2023, according to Clarkson Research Services, a unit of the world's largest shipbroker. This has forced vessel operators to reroute their traffic around the southern tip of Africa instead of going through the Suez Canal – a lengthier and more expensive journey for ships traveling between Asia and Europe. Closing the Strait of Hormuz would quickly hit Iran's own economy as it would prevent it from exporting its petroleum. And it would antagonise China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and a critical partner that has used its veto power at the UN Security Council to shield Iran from Western-led sanctions or resolutions. When has Iran disrupted shipping? Iran has used harassment of ships in the Gulf for decades to register its dissatisfaction with sanctions against it, or as leverage in disputes. In April 2024, hours before launching a drone and missile attack on Israel, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized an Israel-linked container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran released the ship's crew the following month, according to trade publication Lloyd's List. Tehran claimed that the MSC Aries had violated maritime regulations, but analysts pointed to its Israeli ownership connection as a motive. When it seized a US-bound tanker in April 2023, Iran said the ship had struck another vessel. But the move appeared to be retaliation for the seizure off Malaysia's coast of a ship loaded with Iranian crude by US authorities on the grounds of sanctions violations. In May 2022, Iran seized two Greek tankers and held them for six months, presumably a response to the confiscation by Greek and US authorities of Iranian oil on a different ship. The cargo was eventually released and the Greek tankers freed. So, too, was the oil on a tanker that Iran said it impounded in January 'in retaliation for the theft of oil by the US'. Has Iran ever closed the Strait of Hormuz? Not so far. During the 1980 to 1988 war between Iraq and Iran, Iraqi forces attacked an oil export terminal at Kharg Island, northwest of the strait, in part to provoke an Iranian retaliation that would draw the US into the conflict. Afterward, in what was called the Tanker War, the two sides attacked 451 vessels between them. That significantly raised the cost of insuring tankers and helped push up oil prices. When sanctions were imposed on Iran in 2011, it threatened to close the strait, but ultimately backed off. Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval forces, said shortly before the MSC Aries seizure that Iran has the option of disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, but chooses not to. How did the US and allies respond to threats to Hormuz shipping in the past? During the Tanker War, the US Navy resorted to escorting vessels through the Gulf. In 2019, it dispatched an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region. The same year, the US started Operation Sentinel in response to Iran's disruption of shipping. Ten other nations – including the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain – later joined the operation, known now as the International Maritime Security Construct. Since late 2023, much of the focus on protecting shipping has switched away from the Strait of Hormuz and onto the southern Red Sea, the region's other vital waterway, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects it to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on shipping entering or exiting the Red Sea became a greater concern than the Strait of Hormuz. Who relies most on the Strait of Hormuz? Saudi Arabia exports the most oil through the Strait of Hormuz, though it can divert shipments to Europe by using a 1200km pipeline across the kingdom to a terminal on the Red Sea, allowing it to avoid both the Strait of Hormuz and the southern Red Sea. The UAE can export some of its crude without relying on the strait, by sending 1.5 million barrels a day via a pipeline from its oil fields to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman to the south of Hormuz. With its oil pipeline to the Mediterranean closed, all of Iraq's oil exports are currently shipped by sea from the port of Basra, passing through the strait, making it highly reliant on free passage. Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have no option but to ship their oil through the waterway. Most of the oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz heads to Asia. Iran also depends on transit through the Strait of Hormuz for its oil exports. It has an export terminal at Jask, at the eastern end of the strait, which was officially opened in July 2021. The facility offers Tehran a means to get a little of its oil into the world without using the waterway and its storage tanks were slowly being filled with crude late last year. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Oil Tanker Collision Near Strait of Hormuz Raises Security Fears
The United Arab Emirates played down a collision involving two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, blaming navigational errors. But the incident raised worries about security through the passageway, a choke point for ships carrying oil from the Persian Gulf. The accident, which occurred in the Gulf of Oman, comes amid increased reports of GPS jamming of ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. An oil tanker, Adalynn, collided with another oil tanker, Front Eagle, causing 'a small oil spill,' the Emirati government said Wednesday in a statement. Twenty-four crew members of the Adalynn were evacuated from the site of the collision, about 24 nautical miles off the U.A.E. coast, the U.A.E. National Guard said. No injuries were reported among crew members of either vessel. Frontline, a shipping company based in Cypress that owns the Front Eagle, said in a statement that a fire broke out on the Front Eagle's deck and that the incident was 'a navigational incident and not related to the current regional conflict.' But the collision came as Iran and Israel have accused each other of endangering international maritime security and the global energy supply chain. About 1,000 vessels have been affected by GPS interference since the onset of increased tensions in the Middle East, according to Windward, a maritime analytics firm. Around one-third of the volume of crude oil exported by sea and 20 percent of the world's liquefied natural gas, another vital commodity, flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Jean-Charles Gordon, senior director of ship tracking at Kpler, a research firm, said that hundreds, if not thousands, of vessels have experienced navigational interference since Friday, when Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran. 'The latitude and longitudes they're receiving are completely false,' Mr. Gordon said, noting that marine traffic data showed ship positions that were abnormal and inaccurate. He said that military-grade spoofers interfere with the location services of ships, leading their navigational systems to indicate that they are somewhere where they are not. This can increase the chance of collision, but ships also have other systems for navigation, he said. 'It's electronic warfare, essentially,' Mr. Gordon said. 'If the conflict continues, we expect these interferences to continue as well.' Greenpeace, the environmental group, said that satellite imagery showed a large amount of oil stretching up to 1,500 hectares, or nearly six square miles, from the site. 'This is just one of many dangerous incidents to take place in the past years,' said Farah Al Hattab, a campaigner at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, adding that oil spills endanger marine life and can lead to widespread environmental damage.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Oil tanker collision: Why ships are getting lost on radar in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the world's oil passes
Oil Tanker Collision: Navigation data shows sharp turn Why the Oil Tanker Collision in Strait of Hormuz matters Electronic interference suspected Live Events Iran silent on collision (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Two oil tankers caught fire after colliding 24 nautical miles off the United Arab Emirates' east coast on Tuesday. Authorities said no crew member was hurt and no oil entered the sea. The UAE coast guard moved 24 people from the tanker Adalynn to Khor Fakkan port. The crew on the second tanker, Front Eagle, stayed on board as the blaze on its deck was contained. Owner Frontline said an investigation will follow, with no sign of outside Eagle was carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude to Zhoushan, China, according to Adalynn, owned by India‑based Global Shipping Holding Ltd, had no cargo and was heading toward the Suez wrote on X that the Front Eagle 'executed a starboard (right) turn, resulting in a collision with the port quarter (aft port side)' of the slower‑moving collision happened near the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel that carries roughly one‑fifth of the world's seaborne crude. Any disruption here can unsettle global energy markets and maritime insurance costs. The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Data from Vortexa shows that 17.8 million to 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels moved through the narrow passage each day between January 2022 and May clash came as ships in the Gulf report signal problems during missile exchanges between Iran and Israel. A U.S.-led maritime centre said it received reports of interference near Iran's Bandar Abbas port and other Gulf areas. Windward, a shipping analysis firm, counted almost 1,000 ships affected since the fighting began. Its chief executive Ami Daniel said, 'There is usually no jamming in Strait of Hormuz and now there is a lot.'Tehran, which has threatened before to close the strait in response to Western pressure, has not commented on Tuesday's crash or on the wider reports of signal disruption.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Oil tanker collision: Why ships are getting lost on radar in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the world's oil passes
Oil Tanker Collision: Navigation data shows sharp turn Why the Oil Tanker Collision in Strait of Hormuz matters Electronic interference suspected Live Events Iran silent on collision (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Two oil tankers caught fire after colliding 24 nautical miles off the United Arab Emirates' east coast on Tuesday. Authorities said no crew member was hurt and no oil entered the sea. The UAE coast guard moved 24 people from the tanker Adalynn to Khor Fakkan port. The crew on the second tanker, Front Eagle, stayed on board as the blaze on its deck was contained. Owner Frontline said an investigation will follow, with no sign of outside Eagle was carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude to Zhoushan, China, according to Adalynn, owned by India‑based Global Shipping Holding Ltd, had no cargo and was heading toward the Suez wrote on X that the Front Eagle 'executed a starboard (right) turn, resulting in a collision with the port quarter (aft port side)' of the slower‑moving collision happened near the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel that carries roughly one‑fifth of the world's seaborne crude. Any disruption here can unsettle global energy markets and maritime insurance costs. The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Data from Vortexa shows that 17.8 million to 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels moved through the narrow passage each day between January 2022 and May clash came as ships in the Gulf report signal problems during missile exchanges between Iran and Israel. A U.S.-led maritime centre said it received reports of interference near Iran's Bandar Abbas port and other Gulf areas. Windward, a shipping analysis firm, counted almost 1,000 ships affected since the fighting began. Its chief executive Ami Daniel said, 'There is usually no jamming in Strait of Hormuz and now there is a lot.'Tehran, which has threatened before to close the strait in response to Western pressure, has not commented on Tuesday's crash or on the wider reports of signal disruption.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ship collision and fire Off UAE coast caused by navigational error, officials say
In the early hours of Tuesday, June 17, two large vessels, oil tanker ADALYNN and cargo ship Front Eagle, collided approximately 24 nautical miles off the UAE's eastern coast in the Gulf of Oman. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The incident, which occurred at around 1:30 a.m., resulted in minor hull damage to both ships, a small oil spill, and a fire that broke out in the fuel tank of one of the vessels, according to the UAE's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI). According to , the Front Eagle was moving southbound at 13.1 knots when it executed a starboard (right) turn, colliding with the aft port side of the Adalynn , which was moving southeast at 4.8 knots. The MoEI confirmed on Wednesday, June 18, that the accident was due to 'navigational misjudgment by one of the vessels.' The fire was extinguished following prompt intervention by emergency teams, and no injuries were reported among the crew members of either ship. The two vessels involved are: ADALYNN, a Suezmax-class oil tanker owned by India-based Global Shipping Holding Ltd, flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. It was sailing without cargo toward the Suez Canal in Egypt. Front Eagle, a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel owned by the Oslo-listed company Frontline. It was carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil bound for Zhoushan, China. Evacuation and Response The UAE National Guard confirmed that 24 crew members aboard the ADALYNN were evacuated by search and rescue boats and taken to the Port of Khor Fakkan. Personnel aboard the Front Eagle were confirmed safe, and no pollution was reported on that vessel despite the fire on its deck. According to Frontline , the fire on the Front Eagle was under control, and the incident is now under investigation, although the company emphasized that there was 'no suggestion of outside interference.' A technical investigation is underway in cooperation with international maritime authorities. The MoEI assured that it would be conducted transparently and in accordance with the highest global maritime standards. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Geopolitical Context: Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz The collision took place near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow and strategic waterway that links the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. This area is critical, as about 20% of the world's seaborne oi, between 17.8 and 20.8 million barrels per day, according to Vortexa, flows through this route. This maritime zone has recently experienced electronic interference, amid escalating military tensions between Iran and Israel. Since Friday, both countries have exchanged missile fire, and according to maritime security firm Ambrey , 'the incident was not security-related.' Still, concerns remain. The Combined Maritime Force's JMIC information centre noted electronic signal interference in the region, particularly near Iran's Bandar Abbas port. Although Tehran has not issued any comment on the collision or the reported electronic disruptions, its history of threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to Western pressure has made the area increasingly volatile. As a result: Dozens of tankers were seen anchored in ports near Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, and Sharjah. Some shipping companies have paused operations or awaited charter decisions amid rising uncertainty. War risk insurance for ships heading to Israeli ports has increased, though rates for Gulf passages have remained stable, for now. 'Rates, for the time being, remain stable with no noticeable increases since the latest hostilities between Israel and Iran,' said David Smith , head of marine at insurance broker McGill and Partners . 'This position could change dramatically depending on any further escalation or general conflagration in the area.' UAE's Emergency Preparedness and Past Rescues The recent rescue underscores the UAE's strong maritime emergency response. Just weeks earlier: On June 4, the National Guard airlifted an injured crew member in his fifties from a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in UAE waters, flying him to a local hospital for urgent treatment. On May 18, 13 people were rescued from a sinking picnic boat, in an operation involving both citizens and residents. These coordinated efforts signal a robust and well-prepared emergency response capability from UAE authorities, especially as regional tensions continue to rise.
