Ships Go Off Course After Navigation Jam Near Hormuz

Ships Go Off Course Near Hormuz Strait After Navigation Systems Jammed

Half a dozen ships have diverted course on the way to the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway connecting the energy-rich Persian Gulf to global markets since Sunday, according to shipping officials, analysts and marine-tracking data. Iranian lawmakers reportedly threatened its closure on Sunday.

Two Chinese-operated very large crude carriers went off course as they tried to enter the strait after their navigation systems were jammed as a result of military operations in Iran.

Coswisdom Lake, run by China’s Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation, and South Loyalty owned by Sinokor Merchant Marine, turned around as they sailed south of the Iranian Port of Bandar Abbas over the weekend. Later, the Coswisdom Lake and two other vessels U-turned again and are now heading back into Hormuz.

A Cosco official said the incident with its vessel was being probed, and the crew of the Coswisdom Lake was safe. Sinokor didn’t return calls for comment. VLCCs can move up to two million barrels of crude.

Iranian lawmakers on Sunday reportedly threatened a closure of the strait after the U.S. joined Israeli strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities. Any disruption to shipping on the route, used by on average 100 tankers daily, would have a significant impact on oil markets. The strait is shared between Iran in the north and Oman in the south and handles around a quarter of the world’s oil trade. The tankers load up oil at terminals in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and deliver the cargoes in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

The China Shipowners’ Association told its members in a statement to immediately start submitting daily reports on their ship movements through the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing also called on the international community to maintain stability in the critical shipping lanes of the Persian Gulf, and said it was in touch with Iran about the ongoing conflict.

Ships veering off course near the Hormuz Strait due to navigation system jamming have raised serious concerns for sea freight safety. This incident highlights the growing vulnerabilities in key maritime corridors and the need for enhanced navigational security measures.

Source: Article