Tehran: Iran has placed 77 vessels on an updated list of ships it says have violated its protocols for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.
The list was issued on Monday by Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the body established by Tehran to manage and regulate requests for passage through the strategic waterway.
The authority said vessels on the list could face restrictions on future passage, including fines, detention or confiscation. It also said vessels that cooperate with its requirements could be added to the list.
The move comes as commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels amid heightened regional tensions and security concerns. Reuters reported that only four commodity vessels exited the Gulf and 10 entered over the weekend, compared with a 10 day average of 14 vessels a day.
Before the current conflict began, around 125 large commercial vessels typically passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day, carrying tankers, gas carriers, bulk cargo and container shipments. The route accounted for about one fifth of global daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
The latest restrictions add another layer of uncertainty for shipping companies operating through the strait, where attacks and security risks have already reduced maritime traffic.
For global energy markets, the concern extends beyond the 77 vessels named by Iran. Continued restrictions or further disruption could make an already vital shipping route more difficult and costly to navigate, adding pressure to energy supplies and freight markets.
