Shipping companies cautious over US mission in Strait of Hormuz

Shipping industry executives are voicing caution regarding Project Freedom, the US-led operation set to begin on May 4 aimed at assisting stranded neutral vessels in passing through the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reports.

“It takes both sides to unblock — not just one,” Bjørn Højgaard, CEO of ship manager Anglo-Eastern, said. “Either party can signal that they are willing to let certain ships through, but unless the other side accepts that in practice, it doesn’t materially change the reality on the water.”

Concerns are growing across the maritime sector that political declarations alone may not translate into operational safety at sea. Several executives stress that coordination between all involved parties remains essential for any real improvement in shipping conditions.

“The Chairman of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission has said such moves ‘will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.’ Under these circumstances we should be cautious,” Richard Hext, Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association said.

The stated objective of the US operation is to “restore freedom of navigation.”

In a statement, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper noted: “Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade.”

Project Freedom is reported to include guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, and around 15,000 service members deployed to support the mission.

A US official told CNN the operation to guide ships through the strait is not an escort mission.

At this stage, there is still no clarity on how the operation will be implemented in practice, or which countries it is expected to directly assist.

By Jeyhun Aghazada