Overview
- The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since Feb. 28, leaving roughly 1,500 commercial vessels idled in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman and creating months of unusually long hull exposure.
- Biofouling typically accelerates after about 10 days of inactivity, and researchers say months of lay‑up have likely produced dense communities of algae, barnacles, mussels and microbes on many hulls.
- Warm, high‑salinity Gulf waters favor stress‑tolerant taxa that are more likely to survive transport and establish in ports with similar conditions, with scientists naming India and Singapore among high‑risk first calls.
- Experts warn fouling organisms can carry parasites and pathogens that threaten fisheries, aquaculture, coastal infrastructure and possibly human health, and they urge in‑water cleaning, risk assessment and early detection at ports.
- Researchers say current IMO guidance and a 2023 resolution are not scaled for this event and call for rapid international coordination, stronger biofouling rules, and port preparedness to reduce the risk before ships depart.