Nicosia, Cyprus. Global shipping remains in “crisis mode” as fighting between the United States and Iran disrupts the Strait of Hormuz and instability continues in the Red Sea, Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis said.
In an interview with journalist and author Andrea Busfield for The European, Hadjimanolis said ship managers are being required to reassess routes, manage risk and protect crews amid changing security conditions.
Route disruptions and costs
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles around one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, has been severely disrupted, while instability in the Red Sea has affected a major trade route between Europe and Asia.
Where possible, vessels are being diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of miles to journeys and increasing fuel use, transit times and operating costs. Other vessels remain on heightened alert as companies assess whether passage through the Gulf remains viable.
“When routes become unsafe, ship managers become crisis coordinators,” Hadjimanolis said, adding that the work of the civilian maritime sector often receives less public attention than military and geopolitical developments.
Operational and crew challenges
Hadjimanolis said shipping managers must reassess routing, manage risk exposure, liaise with flag states, charterers, insurers and crews, and comply with sanctions and security requirements under conditions of uncertainty.
She said operators must also address war-risk insurance, environmental rules, cyber threats and changing compliance obligations. Seafarers may face extended contracts when vessels cannot follow their original itineraries.
“Beyond routing decisions, managers must address crew fatigue, extended contracts, mental health concerns, complex insurance conditions, rapidly changing compliance obligations and heightened scrutiny from multiple authorities,” Hadjimanolis said.
Cyprus maritime sector
Cyprus hosts the European Union’s largest ship-management centre, bringing together ship managers, technical and crewing specialists, maritime lawyers, insurers, financiers and regulators.
Shipping contributes more than 7 per cent of Cyprus’ gross domestic product, while ship management accounts for about 5.5 per cent. The sector generated more than €1 billion in revenue during the second half of 2025, its highest recorded level.