As a core global energy transport corridor, the navigation situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact international shipping and energy markets.
The latest assessment report from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) indicates that approximately 80 mines remain in the traditional main shipping channel of the strait, and full restoration of normal navigation is expected to take several weeks, posing significant challenges to the safe reopening of the traditional international waterway.
Following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, the original international shipping system in the Strait of Hormuz has been completely restructured. The long-used Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) main channel has lost all navigational safety due to mine-laying, leaving only two alternative routes currently available in the region.
The southern route, adjacent to the Omani coast, is coordinated and controlled by the United States;
The northern route, near the Iranian coast, is under Iranian control. These two alternative routes are now the only options for vessel transit.
Under the temporary US-Iran peace agreement, Iran is responsible for mine clearance in the strait, but the actual progress of demining operations remains unclear.
At the same time, Iran’s navigation policies are inconsistent and changeable—on one hand claiming to allow free passage for vessels, while on the other requiring passing ships to obtain its exclusive authorization, further exacerbating uncertainty in shipping regulations.
Maritime security risks continue to escalate.
Recently, an attack on a merchant vessel occurred near the Oman route, and multiple ships approaching the strait have chosen to turn back to avoid risks.
Affected by sudden security incidents, the IMO has urgently suspended evacuation operations for vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf for months, further escalating shipping transit risks.
Despite ongoing risks, the temporary peace agreement has played a stabilizing role for regional shipping.
Currently, Middle Eastern crude oil exports have recovered to 80% of pre-war levels, and several tankers have recently departed from the Persian Gulf, gradually resuming energy transport operations.
However, the industry as a whole remains highly cautious. The International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko) has issued a safety advisory to all members, recommending that shipowners postpone transit plans through the strait until the situation is fully clarified, and explicitly pointing out prominent safety hazards on the Iranian-controlled northern route.
Philip Belcher, the organization’s Marine Director, stated that there are still many unresolved issues and uncertainties regarding navigation through the strait, and the navigation safety assurance system has yet to be fully established.
To accelerate the restoration of navigational capacity, the United Kingdom and France have taken the lead this month in planning an international joint mine-clearance operation, intending to carry out large-scale obstacle removal in the strait.
However, due to multiple factors such as residual mines, geopolitical volatility, and policy instability, the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to return to normal navigation conditions in the short term, and uncertainty in the shipping market will persist.
The Strait of Hormuz handles a large volume of crude oil, natural gas, and other cargo exports from the Middle East, making it one of the world’s most critical energy transport corridors.
