Dubai: Major shipping bodies issued guidance on Hormuz transit to help operators and masters manage vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened security risks.
The guidance came from ICS, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, IMCA and OCIMF. It advises companies to read it with the latest Best Management Practices for Maritime Security.
The document says companies should review five areas before committing to transit. These include the threat picture, navigation, vessel readiness, crew posture and shore support.
The groups said deferment may be safer when recent strikes, mining concerns, traffic compression, equipment faults, crew fatigue or unclear insurance support raise exposure.
The guidance says conditions near the waterway can change quickly. It cites kinetic threats, electronic interference, reporting uncertainty and compressed traffic flows.
It also warns that attackers have used AIS spoofing to place fake vessel echoes near course lines. The document says crews should prioritise visual and radar observations.
The groups said safety of life, safe navigation and environmental protection remain the top priorities. They also said the master retains overriding authority during transit decisions.
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The guidance urges bridge teams to prepare for GNSS loss before transit. It also recommends drills, paper-chart readiness and independent position checks by radar.
Crews should monitor VHF Channel 16 and notify the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Office during incidents or suspicious activity. The document says vessels should activate the Ship Security Alert System if attacked.
