Athens, Greece. Greece’s shipping minister called for the protection of global shipping and seafarers as dozens of ships were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters amid the widening Iran conflict.
Strait of Hormuz closure and shipping risks
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was closed for a fourth day on Tuesday, disrupting a route that accounts for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. Iranian media reported that an Iranian Revolutionary Guards senior official said on Monday Iran would fire on any ship trying to pass through.
Greece’s shipping presence in the region
Greece, which controls one of the world’s largest merchant fleets, said at least 10 Greek-flagged ships were in the Gulf and another five were outside, with crews including dozens of Greek seafarers. More than 325 ships of Greek interests are in the wider area.
Minister’s comments and ministry guidance
“This is alarming and worrying, and I wish that global shipping was left out of war conflicts,” Shipping Minister Vassilis Kikilias told Reuters, adding that global shipping supports global commerce and that sailors are not to blame. The shipping ministry has advised vessels to avoid the region since Saturday, Kikilias said, adding that seafarer safety is a top priority.
Ongoing contact and contingency concerns
Kikilias said the ministry is in communication with those in the area around the clock and that while crews were okay, the situation remained dangerous. “We cannot dismiss the possibility of bigger problems,” he said.
Plan to repatriate stranded nationals
Greece said it has set up a plan to repatriate thousands of its stranded nationals, but their return is difficult because airspace over the region remains closed.
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