WSJ: Iran limits Strait passage to a dozen ships per day

ME News message, on April 9 (UTC+8), Iran informed the mediators that it will limit the number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to about ten or more per day and will impose passage fees. The Arab mediators said that the ships must coordinate with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, on Wednesday only 4 ships were permitted to pass, the lowest level since April. The ships authorized to pass are currently sailing along the usual route, north of the corridor between Qeshm Island and Larak Island in Iran, close to the Iranian coast, heading toward Oman. Shipping operators say that the fees are usually set one week in advance and depend on the size of the vessel; for an ultra-large oil tanker capable of carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, the fee can be as high as 2 million USD. Iran also proposed to the mediators that Oman share the passage fees, but Oman has not yet agreed to the plan. According to the latest report from Iran’s Press TV, the Strait of Hormuz has been fully closed, forcing oil tankers to resume/return on their voyages. (Jin10) (Source: BlockBeats)