The ICS has advised that the United States Navy (USN) has begun a monitoring programme for ships interested in crossing the Strait of Hormuz via the Omani coast, which some ships have exploited in recent weeks.

However, it should be noted the USN is not managing this transit route through convoy coordination, escorts, or the prioritisation of certain vessels; nor are they assuming responsibility for ships that transit the Strait via this route. Rather, this programme seeks to provide an additional layer of oversight to protect seafarers and ships who choose to use it. Furthermore, recommendations with respect to the conditions under which a ship should transit may increase the risk of collision. As such any transit through these waters should be thoroughly threat assessed in accordance with BMP Maritime Security and taking into account the recently published Industry, Guidance on the Safe Management of Vessel Transits Through the Strait of Hormuz, attached below.

Further information can be obtained through US Fifth Fleet Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) email at m-ba-navcent-ncags@us.navy.mil.

Members are cautioned to only respond to correspondence regarding this programme from email domains ending with us.navy.mil. Emails about this programme, or any other USN project, without a us.navy.mil domain should be treated with suspicion and verified for legitimacy.