Financial Times: Ship transit times in Hormuz set under US protection
Financial Times: Ship transit times in Hormuz set under US protection
2026-09-12
Shafaq News – Follow-up
The Financial Times revealed on Saturday that the United States has asked oil tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz to sail at specific times of day, with the aim of ensuring military protection for them.
The newspaper explained, citing emails it had seen, that the United States has been providing air defense services since May to ships wishing to sail through a route that bypasses the Omani coast on the southern side of the strait.
According to the newspaper, ship owners had to apply to the U.S. Maritime Coordination Center, which provides sailors with route coordinates and grants them permission to sail during extended periods of time at night.
She noted that, in early September, sailing periods were reduced to two specific periods per day, with ships being asked to start their journeys at certain times, such as 9 a.m.
She stressed that the passage of ships during these periods is not mandatory, but is recommended to obtain the best possible military support.
The Financial Times quoted a maritime security consultant who works with ships in the Gulf as saying that concentrating resources over shorter periods of time, rather than covering 12 hours throughout the night, gives the United States greater military capability to provide better protection for ships.
The newspaper pointed out that crossing during the hours of darkness has not been proven to be the safest time of day, noting that more than 70 commercial vessels have been attacked since the conflict began on February 28.
shafaq.com
