Is a secure escort of tankers and merchant ships by US forces in the Strait of Hormuz possible? Below are the key questions and answers about oil and gas shipments through the waterway that links the Gulf with the Arabian Sea.
What do we know about “Project Freedom”?
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), “Project Freedom” will deploy more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft and about 15,000 service members. The initiative aims to coordinate efforts to help commercial vessels navigate the Strait of Hormuz, but it does not require the US Navy to escort ships through the waterway.
Shipping groups say roughly 1,000 ships are affected by the blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, with about 20,000 crew stranded and at least 25 vessels hit by gunfire since late February, when fighting expanded. Lloyd’s reports that industry was not consulted in advance by the US government on plans to move stranded ships out of the region.
Are ships still operating in the Strait of Hormuz?
Yes, but traffic has fallen dramatically and often stops. Before February 28, about 125–140 ships passed daily; by April 30 only seven ships had transited in the previous day, according to Kpler. The strait is effectively being constrained by both Iran and the United States. Iran’s blockade since February 28 has reduced overall maritime traffic; vessels must coordinate with Iranian authorities and oil tankers have reportedly been charged a toll of $1 per barrel. The US blockade, begun on April 13, targets ships entering and leaving Iranian ports and has sharply reduced Iranian crude exports to Asia.
BIMCO and other shipping bodies have urged restraint and called for protection of seafarers. They say most companies would need a stable ceasefire and assurances from both sides that the strait is safe to resume transit; mines are a particular concern.
Have insurance costs risen?
Yes. The conflict has driven up war-risk premiums for transits through the Strait of Hormuz, though German insurers say cover remains possible through market mechanisms. Several major marine insurers suspended war-risk coverage for the region or stopped issuing new policies from early March; names reported include Gard, Skuld, NorthStandard, the London P&I Club, the American Club, and MS&AD.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?
The strait links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Major OPEC exporters—Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq—export most of their crude via this chokepoint. In 2024, roughly 20 million barrels per day transited the strait, about one-fifth of global oil consumption. Qatar ships nearly all its liquefied natural gas via the route, and roughly one-fifth of global LNG trade passes through the strait.
Which countries are affected by the blockade?
Effects vary across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran have some alternative export routes; Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain are more exposed. Iran can bypass the strait via the port of Jask on the Gulf of Oman, allowing tankers to reach the Arabian Sea without transiting Hormuz.
Has the US escorted vessels in the past?
Yes. During the 1987 tanker war phase of the Iran–Iraq War, Kuwait requested US escort for its tankers as Iran and Iraq attacked hundreds of vessels. The US registered several Kuwaiti tankers under its flag. Analyses show that of 239 oil tankers involved in that period, 55 (about 23%) were completely sunk or declared lost. Merchant shipping volume fell by roughly 25%, though crude oil prices spiked only briefly because Iran reduced prices to offset higher insurance costs.
This article was originally published in German.