Jonathan K. Waldron and Stefanos N. Roulakis
As attacks on vessels increase the risk of shipping in the Straits of Hormuz and throughout the Persian Gulf, vessel owners and operators, as well as shippers, should review their charter parties and assess risk management plans to ensure the safety of crews and vessels transiting the Persian Gulf.
New Development
U.S.-Iranian tensions recently came to a head when four tankers were attacked off Fujairah in May, a port in the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf of Oman. This was followed up by an attack on two Japanese vessels, the M/T Front Altair and M/T Kikuko Courageous, in the Gulf of Oman on June 13, 2019. U.S. government agencies have accused Iran of being behind the attacks. Tensions continue to rise, although President Trump has called the attacks “very minor.” In the meanwhile, shipping companies are taking steps to reduce their risks transiting in the Straits of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.
Background
The attacks and tankers in the Persian Gulf region are reminiscent of the incidents involving international shipping surrounding regional conflicts, including the “Tanker War” in the 1980s and the re-flagging of Kuwaiti vessels to the U.S. registry during the Gulf War in the 1990s. During the Tanker War period in 1984, and the eight-year Iraq-Iran conflict, both sides attacked tankers and merchant ships in the Persian Gulf. At that time, the U.S. military provided escorts to tankers, some of which carried the U.S. flag.
As regards recent tensions with Iran, since withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) on May 8, 2018, tensions between the United States and Iran have been ratcheting to their most tense level in years. These flames have been fanned by hardliners on both sides. Credible analyses have noted that the White House has been intensely working on a future strategy to address these developments. And, as a result, shipping companies operating in the Persian Gulf region have been taking additional steps to manage their risks.
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