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Strait of Hormuz Effectively Closed, Vatican Seafarers Office Warns of Risks to Crews

Energy agencies say most flows lack alternative routes, leaving markets exposed to a prolonged disruption.

Overview

  • The Vatican-supported Apostleship of the Sea voiced deep concern over military operations restricting passage and said civilian mariners now face fear, uncertainty and real danger.
  • The International Energy Agency reports the chokepoint is effectively shut, trapping more than 90 percent of crude and refined products that typically move through a corridor carrying about a fifth of global oil.
  • The Islamic Republic of Iran has vowed to block regional exports, declaring it would not allow even a single liter to reach its enemies, intensifying shipping suspensions and reroutes.
  • The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes limited pipeline capacity in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and says most shipments that use the strait have no viable alternative exit.
  • With limited physical workarounds and a history of price spikes when the route is threatened, the Apostleship highlighted the human toll and urged prayers for seafarers and their families.