A vital energy corridor has become a dangerous holding area, leaving crews exposed while the world watches an increasingly uncertain maritime standoff.
About 400 vessels are stranded in the waters of the Persian Gulf due to threats in the Strait of Hormuz. Around 6,000 seafarers are aboard, unable to safely leave the region since the conflict began.
As reported by the online media outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
This was stated by the International Maritime Organization, a specialized UN agency responsible for maritime safety. The organization stressed that the danger to commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf remains significantly above normal levels.
Six months after the start of the conflict in the Middle East, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved.
– Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
Attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz area
According to the International Maritime Organization, 70 attacks on international vessels have been confirmed in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and nearby areas since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began in late February.
At least 19 seafarers have been killed in the attacks. Some vessels and their crews have managed to leave the gulf, but hundreds of ships remain in the danger zone.
Although some vessels and their crews have been able to leave the gulf, up to 400 ships carrying approximately 6,000 seafarers have been unable to safely depart since the conflict began.
– Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters for global trade
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s main routes for transporting energy resources. Before the war, roughly 20% of global crude oil and natural gas volumes were transported through this route.
Iran has effectively restricted passage through the strait, demanding the right to control shipping. At the same time, U.S. officials say their forces control the situation in the strait area. Uncertainty surrounding the route’s security continues to complicate the departure of commercial vessels from the Persian Gulf.