by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has prompted increased vigilance within the global maritime industry.
A joint advisory issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and the Joint Maritime Information Centre highlighted increased risks for maritime operations in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman.
Israel's recent strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and Tehran's vow of retaliation raised fears of military escalation impacting regional navigation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
Jakob P. Larsen, Head of Security at Bimco, reflected on potential risks to ShippingWatch, saying, "An escalation is likely to impact freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf/Straits of Hormuz. Such an escalation could include missile attacks on ships or laying of sea mines in the Straits."
Furthermore, Larsen observed that several shipping companies have already opted to avoid both the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz due to heightened risks.
Meanwhile, Danish carrier Maersk has reassured the public that its operations remain unaffected by the conflict.
In a written statement to ShippingWatch, the company emphasised its focus on employee safety and business continuity, stating, "We are currently not experiencing any disruptions."
However, despite these developments, Johnson Leung, co-founder of Linerlytica, told Lloyd's List, "I do not see any incremental impact yet from the Middle East conflicts on container shipping.”
While the situation remains volatile, carriers are expected to prolong the rerouting around Africa.
Analysts, however, highlighted that the situation is still uncertain, as currently there are no clear signs of imminent disruption by Iran or other entities targeting shipping lanes.
