The world’s shipping industry has questioned whether vessels will be able to travel safely to and from the Gulf after Donald Trump announced his latest plan to open the strait of Hormuz.
Trump wrote on Monday that the US navy would “guide” stranded ships out of the waterway, writing on his social media site Truth Social that the operation, “Project Freedom”, would be a humanitarian gesture “on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran”.
But within hours Iran’s Fars news agency reported a US warship intending to pass through the strait had been hit by two missiles and turned back after ignoring an Iranian warning. The US denied its ship had been hit. Brent crude rose more than 5% a barrel to $114.45 amid reports that the United Arab Emirates was responding to a missile threat and a fire on a South Korean vessel in the Gulf.
The US Central Command (Centcom) said two US-flagged merchant vessels had “successfully transited” through the strait of Hormuz.
Shipping industry experts questioned whether the president’s plan could be sustainable or if it would be a limited operation to get some of the trapped ships out.
About 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) typically passes through the strait but that flow has come to avirtual standstill since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on 28 February.
Sascha Meijer, the general secretary of the seafarers’ union Nautilus, said: “Seafarers stuck in the strait would really appreciate protection to get ships sailing out. But is this protection sure? How about mines? Are the ships insured? Is this offer enough? It is really too soon to conclude if this is good news or creates more danger.”
Her comments were echoed by an oil tanker captain stuck in the strait, Raman Kapoor, who told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme that he “would not take this risk” of attempting to leave.
“As a captain it is my duty as well to assess the situation. I have to take the consent of [the] whole crew – whether they are willing to put their lives at risk. It’s a long process,” he said.
Trump did not provide details about how the more than 850 vessels trapped in the Gulf would be freed.
“I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait,” wrote Trump on Truth Social. “In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else.”
Jakob Larsen, the chief safety and security officer at the shipping industry group Bimco, also indicated that the president’s comments needed clarifying.
“Without consent from Iran to let commercial ships transit safely through the strait of Hormuz, it is currently not clear whether the Iranian threat to ships can be degraded or suppressed,” Larsen said.
“In view of the Iranian threats against any ship attempting to transit the strait of Hormuz without coordination with Iran’s military, there is a risk of hostilities breaking out again if ‘Project Freedom’ goes ahead.”
A statement by Centcom said: “US military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multidomain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members.”
The move by the White House came as the crisis in the Middle East threatens to tip the global economy into recession, with oil prices about 50% higher than pre-conflict levels.