Shipping firms seek clarifications before crossing Hormuz

Shipping companies said several things had to be clarified, including the presence of mines, Iranian conditions, practical implementations.Shipping companies have cautiously welcomed Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open but said they would require clarifications, including about the risk of mines, before vessels move through the entry point to the Gulf.Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was open to all commercial vessels during a 10-day Lebanon ceasefire accord, prompting a fall in oil and other commodity prices while stock markets rose.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Canada T20 World Cup game in India under ICC scrutiny amid corruption claimlist 2 of 4Can Hungary wean itself off Russian energy, as its new leader has promised?list 3 of 4Controversy as Lebanese banker Sehnaoui is praised for supporting Israellist 4 of 4Inside Kharg Island, Iran’s oil lifeline under threatend of listAll commercial ships, including United States vessels, can sail through the strait, although their plans need to be coordinated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency.Transit would be restricted to lanes which Iran deemed safe, adding that military vessels were still prohibited, the official said.“We are currently verifying the recent announcement related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all merchant vessels and secure passage,” said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the United Nations shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization.The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association said several things had to be clarified before any ships could transit the strait, including the presence of mines, Iranian conditions and practical implementation.“If this represents a step towards an opening, it is a welcome development,” said Knut Arild Hareide, CEO of the association which represents 130 companies with some 1,500 vessels.