Hormuz Crisis: Top Global Shipping Lines Demand Absolute Guarantees of Safe Passage

Photo: Adobe Stock / Phaisarnwong2517

Safe and sustainable transit through the Strait of Hormuz is the prerequisite demanded by top shipping conglomerates before the world can witness the resumption of oil and cargo flows in and out of the Gulf. This message was emphasized by two senior industry leaders this Wednesday on the sidelines of Singapore Maritime Week.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has essentially been paralyzed since the outbreak of the US-Iran war on February 28, causing severe disruptions to energy supply chains from the Gulf. Under normal conditions, this chokepoint handles about 130 vessel transits per day, accounting for roughly 20% of global daily oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies.

MOL: The Concept of "Open" Must Be Accompanied by Practical Guarantees

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL)—one of the world's largest shipping conglomerates and a leading owner of oil and LNG tankers—remains highly cautious regarding recent developments, particularly after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued warnings about sea mines around the strait.

Speaking to Reuters, Jotaro Tamura, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MOL Japan, stated: "Two weeks ago when the ceasefire, said to be temporary, came into picture, we thought there was hope. But in reality, the agreement was not translated into the safety and passage (of the vessels),"

Tamura emphasized that safety concerns will persist even if the strait is declared reopened: "It's a question of the definition of open. Is it really open, or is it half open? Is it open, but there is risk?"

"At some point in time, it (voyages) will resume, and normalisation comes into picture. But it's hard to foresee how reality would be."

When asked whether MOL would agree to pay transit tolls to Iran if demanded, the CEO affirmed MOL's stance of adhering to international law, which protects the right of transit passage through international straits.

CMB.Tech: Cannot "Hedge Risks" with Lives and Assets

Echoing this cautious sentiment, the diversified Belgian maritime group CMB.Tech—which manages a fleet of over 250 vessels—is also waiting for a clearer picture.

Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.Tech, shared on the sidelines of the conference: "We cannot hedge. We just need to wait for what is going to happen in the Middle East,"

"It is creating a lot of uncertainty."

Saverys highlighted the core operational requirement for his fleet: "We need to be confident that we can transit without having any issues,"

"Today we have no reassurance whatsoever. We will only get the reassurance once we see that ships can pass through the straits in a safe and sustainable way."

Responding to the controversial issue of transit tolls, Saverys was straightforward: "The Strait of Hormuz is a free passage where normally no toll should be paid,"  "If that would change in the future, we will investigate."

The CEO declined to comment on the number of CMB.Tech vessels currently stranded inside the Gulf, but delivered a concluding message on the current situation: "We're in communication with all the governments to see and to make sure that our vessels can navigate. But right now, as you know, the situation is not safe yet."

See more:

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• Hormuz Crisis Reaches Boiling Point: US Navy Opens Fire to Intercept Vessel, Iran Establishes Toll Corridor
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• COSCO updates Vietnam-Intra Asia sailing schedules in Apr 2026
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Source: Phaata.com (According to MarineLink)

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