Iranian Vessel Seizure Heightens Threat To Shipping

The seizure of the 15,000 TEU 'MSC Aries' has raised a new threat to shipping in the Middle East region, being the first direct action by the Iranian military.

The ship was boarded and seized by Iranian troops via helicopter on Saturday, in the Strait of Hormuz, and remains under their control, along with its 25 crew members.

The vessel, which is understood to be linked to an Israeli billionaire, was seized shortly after leaving Dubai. Worryingly, this area had not previously been affected by commercial shipping targeting, which had largely been limited to Houthi Rebel attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel between the UAE and Iran, which links the Persian Gulf and the Gulf Of Oman. Concerns are now mounting that further action by the Iranians could effectively cut the strait off, restricting ocean freight access to Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.

With the vast majority of carriers already avoiding the Red Sea region, by routing vessels around the Cape Of Good Hope, any further escalation from the Iranian military could lead to them wanting to avoid the Middle East altogether.

Croft cargo are keeping a close eye on the frightening developments. For further information, do not hesitate to contact us.

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