The U.S. And Iran Keep Fighting To Transport Crude In The Middle East. Maritime Authorities Are Sounding The Alarm.

Maritime authorities are warning that the sustained conflict in the Middle East threatens to create a two-tier system for international shipping.

The Consultative Shipping Group (CSG) noted that “freedom of navigation and predictable access to shipping routes are essential to maintaining food and energy security and the resilience of global supply chains.”

The group highlighted in a statement the repeated disruptions around the world, including the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine and conflicts across the Middle East. It went on to warn that “discriminatory trade measures and diverging national approaches could fragment shipping markets, increase uncertainty and ultimately raise costs for businesses and consumers.”

In this context, the CSG warned about the “growing number of vessels involved in sanctions evasion and the expansion of an unregulated shadow fleet operating outside standard insurance, safety and transparency frameworks,” noting that the scenario “creates a two-tier shipping system and undermines trust, predictability and fair competition.”

As a result, the group called “for existing international rules to be applied consistently across jurisdictions, supported by greater transparency and information sharing.”

But despite the call, states have been involved in the irregular transport of oil as wars rage on. U.S. officials recently said forces have been helping transport of over 660 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s blockade over the past months.

Concretely, U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the force, said in late August that the Central Command it had assisted some 1,300 vessels sail through the waterway since early May. “Multiple routes remain free and open for commercial transit,” he added.

Based on Centcom estimations, the force has helped the transport of some 7 million barrels per day. This is still considerably below pre-war levels, when about 20 million barrels made it through the waterway every day.

The remarks follow a report claiming that the U.S. military is carrying out missions to help vessels transit the strait despite Iran’s blockade.

Citing officials familiar with the matter, Axios detailed that the strategy has managed to guarantee the shipping of about 10 millions of barrels a day.

Overall, between 15 and 20 tankers are entering and exiting the waterway at night through a channel along the coast of Oman.

U.S. forces are not only escorting the vessels, but also helping them pick up oil from countries in the region and then exit.

The military is using fighter jets to protect the vessels from potential missiles and drones launched from Iran, and made possible by a recent launch of strikes that weakened Tehran’s radar and maritime surveillance systems. Some ships, however, have been hit.