There is a high risk of Houthi retaliation or of Iranian attempts to seize vessels linked to US or Israeli interests.

The world of commercial shipping is about to be upended by two major forces: sudden and severe disruptions, and skyrocketing insurance costs.

The US Navy has declared a wide maritime warning zone across the Middle East Gulf region. This was done after large-scale US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The US Navy says it cannot guarantee the safety of merchant vessels. It is urging ships and aircraft to keep clear. This is because of expected GPS jamming and spoofing according to Lloyd’s List

The shipping industry has been warned to avoid navigating through a U.S.-established "maritime warning zone" that covers the Middle East, Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, and Strait of Hormuz. In a notice issued the U.S. Navy Central Command warned ships against navigating within this area.

The statement 

The statement elucidated that the US Navy was unable to provide an assurance of the security of neutral or merchant shipping. The statement recommended that merchant ships navigate no closer than 30 nautical miles from a naval vessel.The naval advisory, which has since been distributed by flag states and security firms worldwide, recommends that "aircraft and ships keep clear of the designated area." According to multiple advisories issued by regional naval operations and industry security sources, jamming and spoofing of satellite navigation systems is likely.

Source: Lloyd’s List Intelligence / Seasearcher

Greece warns

On the other hand the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy issued an urgent advisory  warning all Greek-flagged vessels to exercise maximum vigilance and avoid key shipping lanes. The reason for the advisory was the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.Non-essential EU personnel are being withdrawn from the region, and the EU’s Aspides naval mission has been placed on high alert in the Red Sea.

A statement of  Aspides 

In a statement, Aspides warned shipping to "stay vigilant and be aware that attacks against all shipping can't be excluded." The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, described the situation as “perilous” and said that Aspides is ready to help keep the maritime corridor open.Shipping industry security officials have warned that the threat to shipping in the region remains high. Multiple vessels of all types have been observed turning around in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.

The sites of U-turns made by vessels.

In the same context, the Tanker Owners Association  (Intertanko ) issued an urgent advisory warning members that "the expectation is that the Houthis may respond and recommence attacks on shipping," though the association stressed that immediate intelligence was "unclear." Similarly, there is a widespread belief that the Iranians would not close the Strait of Hormuz but instead seek to seize ships related to the belligerents," Intertanko warns.

BIMCO warns 

It was warned by Jakob Larsen, the chief safety and security officer at BIMCO, that the security risk to ships operating in the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters would be dramatically increased by the US/Israeli attack on Iran.Larsen said that ships with business connections to U.S. or Israeli interests are more likely to be targeted, but other ships may also be targeted deliberately or in error. Bimco has warned that insurance rates for ships approaching the area will increase "manyfold," and those with business connections to the US or Israel will probably be unable to obtain insurance.

 Iran's Kharg Island

According to Reuters reports, explosions sounded near Iran's Kharg Island. Iran exports 90% of its crude oil through the narrow Strait of Hormuz via Kharg. Meanwhile the immediate focus for shipping companies will be navigating security hot spots, 

source : Agencies +Lloyd’s List

Related : The military escalation between the US, Israel, and Iran has disrupted shipping traffic in the Red Sea and Suez Canal region.

#Bimco # US Navy #Strait of Hormuz #Lloyd’s List #Intertanko #Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs # Iran's Kharg Island # maritime warning zone #U.S. and Israel #manyfold #Houthis #"massive" strikes #Iran