Hormuz technically open for ships, but risks too high, says Indian National Shipowners’ Association chief

NEW DELHI: The Strait of Hormuz remains technically open, but commercial shipping is far from normal, according to Anil Devli, chief executive of the Mumbai-based Indian National Shipowners’ Association.With 14 Indian vessels trapped in this chokepoint and with Indian ships earlier hit by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , Devli said, there is bound to be some sense of hesitation among seafarers. “Technically, Hormuz is open. Vessels are transiting, but for commercial traffic, the risks are still immense,” Devli told TOI.“We understand that some neutral-flag vessels are transiting with Iran's tacit permission or US protection,” but “normal traffic”, said Devli, has come to a halt. The vessels that are moving are doing so on borrowed time and borrowed trust. When the first Indian ship came out, then the second, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth—confidence was building. Then, two Indianflagged vessels got fired on April 18 by IRGC boats: VLCC Sanmar Herald and bulk carrier Jag Arnav. An audio captured the Sanmar Herald’s radio plea: “Sepah Navy! You gave clearance—I'm second on your list. You're firing now! Let me turn back!”The incident prompted India to raise it with the Iranian ambassador regarding the safety of its mariners, but confidence among Indian seafarers—already fragile —cratered. “‘You yourselves cleared me’, the captain was heard on the radio telling the Iranians. That tells you the level of uncertainty that the seafarers on board vessels transiting the strait are dealing with,” said Devli.During the peak of hostilities last month, supplies, food deliveries and basic services for Indian seafarers and crew members were disrupted. That situation, Devli said, has since stabilized. India has so far facilitated movement of eight LPG vessels.