INTERCARGO has told dry bulk operators to carry out ship- and voyage-specific risk assessments for the Strait of Hormuz and wider Middle East, as Gulf security conditions change “by the hour”, according to INTERCARGO.
The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners said its members’ main concerns were uncertainty and the safety of crews and ships.
It advised companies to monitor JMIC, MECIO and UKMTO advisories between Secretariat updates. INTERCARGO said it has also been circulating briefings from maritime and naval bodies including MECIO, JMIC, EU NAVFOR, NATO and UKMTO.
The guidance was issued as the International Maritime Organization maintained a dedicated Middle East and Strait of Hormuz information portal, saying more than 20,000 seafarers in the region are affected, including those stranded on vessels unable to leave the strait.
Separate operational guidance showed wider industry caution. Inchcape Shipping Services said its Middle East operational status was being updated twice daily using local intelligence.
Maersk said any Hormuz transit decision would be based on continuous risk assessments, monitoring of the security situation and guidance from relevant authorities and partners.
INTERTANKO advised members, where possible, to delay Strait of Hormuz transits until the situation is clearer, follow JMIC and EU NAVFOR advice, report suspicious activity to USN NCAGS, EU NAVFOR and UKMTO, and review AIS and LRIT policy in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
INTERCARGO, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, represents dry cargo shipowners, managers and operators and has held consultative status at the International Maritime Organization since 1993.
INTERTANKO, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, represents independent tanker owners and operators and works on tanker safety, environmental and operational issues.
