Maritime risk chief says Hormuz security has deteriorated for oil tankers

The security environment in the Strait of Hormuz has worsened, with a surge in attacks on oil tankers, said Dimitris Maniatis, chief executive of the maritime-risk firm Marisks, during a Lloyd's List Intelligence briefing. He noted a decline in vessel transits and heightened crew anxiety about sailing the waterway.

Data from the International Maritime Organization show that at least nine ships have been attacked since July 6, as Iran seeks to force vessels into its territorial waters rather than the U.S.-protected route along Oman's coast. The crude oil tanker Al Bahyah was hit off Oman, killing one seafarer and injuring three, while another tanker, Mombasa B, suffered eleven injuries in a separate incident.

Jakob Larsen, chief security officer at shipping association BIMCO, said the Iranian assaults have employed anti-ship missiles and that the traditional traffic separation scheme in the strait remains unsafe because of the risk of mines. He warned that a mine detonation typically occurs beneath a ship, posing a severe threat.

The U.S. military recently disabled an unladen tanker, M/T Belma, after it ignored warnings while heading toward Iran's Kharg Island. President Donald Trump stated that the strait is open to all vessels except those of Iran following the re-imposition of a U.S. naval blockade.

U.S. forces have carried out six rounds of airstrikes in response to the tanker attacks, and Iran, together with its Houthi allies, has threatened to disrupt Red Sea shipping, an alternative route for Saudi oil exports. Larsen told CNBC that the situation appears to be on a path of escalation.

Shipping companies are seeking clear assurances from both the United States and Iran that the strait is safe for navigation. In the absence of a definitive agreement on transit lanes, continued U.S. strikes on Iranian missile sites and naval assets may be required to reduce the perceived threat, according to Larsen. He added that the decision to sail through Hormuz depends not only on ship owners but also on crew consent.