Strait of Hormuz: 80 Naval Mines Block Main Shipping Lane as Fleet Diverts

The central shipping channel of the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains heavily obstructed by approximately 80 naval mines, forcing commercial vessels to navigate through alternative northern and southern corridors to avoid the hazard.

The international maritime association Intertanko, which represents independent tanker owners, confirmed that the primary lane requires extensive mine clearance operations before normal transit can resume.

Alternative Routes Active for Maritime Traffic

According to Philip Belcher, Marine Director at Intertanko, shipping companies are successfully utilizing two alternative corridors to bypass the central blockage. Vessels are moving through a northern route within Iranian territorial waters and a southern route within Omani territorial waters. Both of these secondary lanes are fully open and secure for international navigation.

This development follows the landmark memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. A core provision of the treaty requires Iran to exert maximum effort to guarantee safe passage for commercial shipping. The accord mandates that Iran must complete the technical and military removal of all mines and obstructions within a strict 30-day window.

Hundreds of Trapped Ships Begin to Move

Data provided by maritime intelligence firm Lloyd's List Intelligence reveals that major shipowners have aggressively started moving their fleets following the announcement of the diplomatic breakthrough.

Richard Meade, Editor-in-Chief of Lloyd's List, stated that ships are crossing the vital waterway for the first time in 110 days. Hundreds of commercial vessels have been effectively trapped or stranded in the surrounding region since February.

Current tracking models estimate that roughly 550 commercial vessels are preparing to leave Gulf waters, signaling an end to the prolonged maritime gridlock. The massive backlog includes:

160 crude oil and product tankers

200 dry bulk carriers

60 container ships

10 vehicle carriers

Global Energy Impact

The Strait of Hormuz serves as the single most critical energy artery on Earth, carrying roughly 20 percent of the total global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas. The monthslong closure triggered a historic global energy crisis.

While exact transit figures for the initial 24 hours remain fluid, global shipping giants including the Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen, and NYK have already authorized their vessels to commence transit. Additionally, two crude tankers flying the Iranian flag and operated by the National Iranian Oil Company have entered the strait carrying crude shipments, while three giant Saudi-flagged supertankers carrying 6 million barrels of oil successfully crossed the waterway.

To expedite safety efforts, Germany has deployed two naval warships through the Suez Canal toward the Red Sea to assist in the upcoming multilateral mine-clearing operation.