When freedom of navigation becomes casualty of war
The effectiveness of Iran’s retaliatory measures to the US/Israeli air strikes that began on 28 February has taken the world by surprise, and catapulted shipping to the top of the global news agenda.
No-one is now unaware of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied gas, or of the ripple effect of increased prices for energy and related commodities such as fertilisers. The Strait of Hormuz had just provisionally reopened after having been closed for some months at the time of writing (end-June), and economies around the world were feeling the pain.
The great and the good of shipping continue to espouse the right of ‘freedom of navigation’ and seek a return to the pre-conflict status quo of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
IMO announced what it deemed a safe Evacuation Plan for the estimated 600 ships and 11,000 seafarers trapped inside the Gulf, offering alternative routes via either a Northern (Iran) Corridor or Southern (Oman) one, but had to pause it three days after an Evergreen vessel using the Southern Corridor was struck by a drone – presumably fired by Iran at a vessel using a routing contrary to its wishes.
The situation remained anything but clear as this issue went to press. But it appeared that the possibility of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz entirely free of charge – without a ‘toll’, mandatory transit insurance or so-called ‘maritime service fees’ for completing the crossing – can no longer be taken for granted.
For their part, Iranian authorities have declared that “everyone should know that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz will never go back to the way it was before the war” [see also following article].
Whoever is deemed responsible for having opened the Pandora’s Box of disputed control over navigation through this strategic bottleneck, it will be no easy task to return to the pre-conflict status quo. Or, if freedom of navigation is resumed, to ensure that it isn’t withdrawn again at the slightest provocation.