Hapag-Lloyd highlights heightened risks in the Strait of Hormuz due to military strikes and routing conflicts, impacting maritime operations.
Hapag-Lloyd has warned that escalating military strikes and conflicting routing directives have created a 'new normal' of heightened risk in the Strait of Hormuz, reports Fox News.
The German shipping giant stated that Tehran has resumed crude exports from Kharg Island, loading an estimated 4.12 million barrels of wet cargo, including 3.91 million barrels of crude oil. Maritime intelligence firms Windward AI and Vortexa confirmed the restart of Iranian shipments after days of disruption.
Hanja Maria Richter, spokeswoman for Hapag-Lloyd, emphasized that the situation has been fluid since the conflict began, making constant vigilance essential. She noted that risk assessments are conducted for every vessel and crew operating in the Persian Gulf region.
The warning came as US Central Command launched airstrikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island, on June 26 after a vessel was hit in the strait. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated by striking US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Commercial cargo vessels and tankers remain anchored in the Gulf of Oman near Muscat, awaiting passage through the strait, which is one of the world's most critical trade corridors. Hapag-Lloyd stated that the operational chaos underscores the need for heightened security and planning in the region.
