Dozens of Dutch ships unable to leave Persian Gulf amid military tensions

Dozens of ships sailing under the Dutch flag or owned by Dutch shipping companies are struggling to leave the Persian Gulf amid escalating tensions with Iran, a near standstill in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and sharply rising insurance costs following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The Koninklijke Vereniging van Nederlandse Reders (KVNR), the Netherlands’ shipowners association, said the security situation has become highly unpredictable, making departures from the region impossible or extremely difficult for many vessels. At the same time, insurers have warned shipowners that policies will be canceled or premiums sharply increased for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The Dutch association estimates that the affected Dutch ships carry more than 500 crew members in total, including more than 100 Dutch nationals. There are no reports of damage to Dutch vessels or injuries among crews.

KVNR Director Annet Koster stated on Sunday that the current situation in the region is highly unpredictable, implying that the safety of ships and their crews could fluctuate minute by minute. She said the association is in close contact with vessels in the region and is closely monitoring developments.

According to Koster, Iran claims it has closed the Strait of Hormuz, complicating any attempt by ships to leave the Persian Gulf. “In addition, there are ships in the area that, even if the Strait of Hormuz were open, cannot leave ports in the Persian Gulf independently,” she said. “For example, work vessels that need to be moved with the assistance of a tugboat.”

Several major shipping companies, including Hapag-Lloyd, have temporarily suspended sailings through the Strait of Hormuz. While some traffic remains, it is reportedly far below normal levels. Vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic shows large numbers of ships waiting on both sides of the strait.

The KVNR has advised shipowners in the region to follow guidance issued by flag states. Those advisories are not public for security reasons but are made available to shipowners, the association said.

Insurance

The Financial Times reported that on Saturday the insurers informed shipowners that coverage would be withdrawn and premiums sharply increased for ships sailing through the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Brokers told the newspaper that premiums could rise by as much as 50 percent in the coming days.

Until recently, insurance premiums for ships transiting the Gulf were about 0.25 percent of a vessel’s replacement value. For a ship worth 100 million dollars, the expected increase would raise the premium per voyage from 250,000 to 375,000 dollars, insurance broker Marsh told the FT. Insurers’ biggest concern is whether Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz and whether attacks could be carried out by allied groups such as the Houthis.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the entrance to the oil-rich Persian Gulf, has meanwhile all but dried up. MarineTraffic data shows the waterway was nearly empty Saturday after Iranian authorities urged ships not to transit the strait, with vessels piling up on both sides.

Ships received radio messages stating that “no vessel is allowed to sail through the Strait of Hormuz,” a source within the EU naval mission Aspides told Reuters. Although Iran has not formally confirmed issuing such an order, the source said the message appeared to originate from Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported receiving notifications from ships that they had been told the strait was closed. Earlier Saturday, several shipping companies, oil firms, and trading houses had already diverted vessels as a precaution.

The U.S. Department of Transportation also urged ships Saturday to stay clear of the area. The warning applied not only to the Strait of Hormuz but also to the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea. Ships flying the U.S. flag, owned by U.S. interests, or operated by U.S. crews were also instructed to maintain a distance of 30 nautical miles—more than 55 kilometers—from any U.S. military vessel to avoid being mistaken for a threat, according to the statement.