London, 01 March (H.S.): Escalating military tensions linked to Iran have disrupted maritime operations across the Gulf region. According to ship-tracking data, at least 150 oil tankers—including crude oil and LNG carriers—have dropped anchor in open waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz.

Post U.S. and Israeli strikes, uncertainty has surged, prompting numerous vessels to halt near the coasts of major oil producers Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the world's leading LNG exporter.

Mounting Concerns Over Global Oil Flows

Around 20% of global oil supplies—including shipments from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran—transit the Strait of Hormuz, alongside substantial LNG volumes from Qatar.

Traffic indicates many vessels are stationary within the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Kuwait and UAE, which typically extend about 12 nautical miles (roughly 39 km or more) from shorelines.

Approximately 100 additional tankers are anchored off UAE and Omani coasts outside the strait, joined by dozens of cargo ships in various EEZs.

Navigation in Limbo

Sources report that tanker owners, oil majors, and trading houses have temporarily suspended crude, fuel, and LNG shipments via Hormuz following the attacks. Iran has claimed to close navigation, though no formal suspension has been confirmed by international maritime authorities.

The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center warned of potential increased naval presence, stricter security, VHF hailing, anchorage congestion outside the strait, and insurance market volatility.Experts caution that prolonged tensions could broadly impact global energy markets and maritime trade.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar