While cautiously welcoming Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open, shipping companies said they need further details, particularly on potential mine risks, before sending vessels through the Gulf’s main gateway.

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, announced in a social media post on 17 April, that in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

US president Donald Trump reportedly welcomed the announcement that the Strait of Hormuz was fully open and ready for full passage. 

However, Trump later said the US blockage of Iranian ports would continue in full force until the transaction with Iran is completed. 

Then it was reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had again closed the strait, citing the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports.

International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, said: “We are currently verifying the recent announcement related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all merchant vessels and secure passage using the IMO established traffic separation scheme.”

International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General Thomas A. Kazakos said while the announcement is encouraging, significant uncertainty remains about what it will mean in practice.

“This development offers a cautious measure of reassurance to the global maritime community and, most importantly, to the seafarers who have been placed in harm’s way and confined on board their vessels for more than seven weeks,” he said. 

“While this announcement is a positive step there is still much uncertainty around what it means in practice. Regardless it is essential that it marks the beginning of a broader and more durable return, beyond the current ceasefire, to freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.

“An orderly and sustained return to normal transit through the Strait will be essential. This will require close coordination between the International Maritime Organization, regional states, naval authorities, and the shipping industry to ensure that vessels can transit safely.

“Above all, it is imperative that full freedom of navigation is respected by all parties in accordance with international law.”

In an urgent safety message, Jakob Larsen, Chief Safety and Security Officer of BIMCO, said the announcement by US President Trump that Hormuz is fully open was “inaccurate”.

“100 % credible reports indicate that status of mine threat in the Traffic Separation Scheme is not fully understood, and that shipping should consider avoidance of the area. In other words the TSS is NOT declared safe for transit,” he said in a social media post. 

Photo credit: william william on Unsplash
Published: 20 April, 2026

The Penang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained two tankers for allegedly conducting an illegal ship-to-ship transfer of about 700,000 litres of diesel fuel on Saturday (11 April).

Penang MMEA director Suffi Ramli said the operation followed intelligence received at 10.45am on suspicious movements involving the two ships anchored in the Bagan Ajam waters before a patrol boat was sent to the location. 

“An inspection found that both vessels were side by side and suspected to be carrying out ship-to-ship oil transfer activities without permission,” he said. 

He added that further inspection found that the activity involved an estimated 700,000 liters transfer of Euro 5 diesel oil, while the total quantity of diesel on board was estimated to reach 800,000 liters.

According to him, the operation also led to the detention of 22 crew comprising Malaysian, Myanmar, Russian, Filipinos and Indonesian nationals who were on board both vessels.

The overall value of the seizure was estimated to be MYR 2.33 billion (USD 586 million), making this case one of the country’s highest-profile maritime seizures this year. 

The value includes the two tankers that were confiscated, worth MYR 2.32 billion and MYR 2.89 million respectively, and the Euro 5 diesel cargo that was attempted to be smuggled was estimated to be worth MYR 5.43 million.

The case is being investigated under Section 491B (1)(k) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for carrying out ship-to-ship transfers without the permission of the Director-General of the Marine Department of Malaysia. 

The offence carries a fine of up to MYR 200,000 for each vessel. 

In addition, investigations are also carried out under the Customs Act 1967 for failing to produce documents related to oil transfer and cargo declaration.

All the detained crews and vessels were later brought to shore before being handed over to Penang MMEA investigating officers for further action.

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 13 April, 2026

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was alerted on Friday (10 April) at about 3.00 pm to a container fire on board the London-registered container vessel EVER LENIENT at PSA Pasir Panjang Terminal.

MPA deployed three patrol craft while PSA’s Emergency Response Team and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) firefighters, including vessels from SCDF’s Marine Division, were also on site.

All crew members were accounted for and there were no reported injuries and no oil pollution.

In an update on 11 April, MPA said the fire onboard the vessel was extinguished. 

Firefighting efforts continued through the night, led by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), with Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore deploying patrol craft to conduct seaward cordon duties and drones to provide aerial surveillance in support of the firefighting operations. SCDF continued to cool the area to ensure no residual heat remains.

The port authority added that the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Photo credit: Marine Traffic / Michael Schindler
Published: 13 April, 2026