Merchant vessels operating in the Persian Gulf region are being told that Iran is shutting down the Strait of Hormuz amid the expanding conflict between Iran and the U.S. and Israel.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, a Royal Navy-sponsored organization that acts as a “911 call center” for the global shipping industry, said it has received multiple reports from ship operators about the shutdown.
At least 20% of the world’s petroleum product passes through the Strait of Hormuz, widely considered the most crucial oil chokepoint in the world.
“These reports cannot be independently verified at this time,” the UKMTO said in an advisory issued Saturday. “Mariners are advised that VHF broadcasts or statements indicating closure of the Strait of Hormuz are not legally binding and do not constitute a lawful restriction on navigation under internal law.”
Vessel tracking data indicate reduced ship operations through the strait, but not a total shutdown.
The UKMTO said military forces may establish advisory or warning zones to reduce the risk of inadvertent engagement, but such a move isn’t intended to impede merchant shipping. Vessels are free to navigate through international waterways.
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The U.S. Maritime Administration is warning merchant vessels to keep clear of the area. Friendly merchant ships operating in the region should maintain a 30-nautical-mile standoff from U.S. military warships to reduce the risk of being mistaken for a threat.
Commercial vessels should also review and implement risk mitigation measures dealing with illegal Iranian boarding operations well in advance of entering the region, U.S. officials said.
