INTERTANKO: Hormuz Mine Clearance ‘Not Sufficient’ to Restore Normal Shipping

Mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz is “not sufficient on its own” to bring commercial shipping back to normal, INTERTANKO warned, even as the tanker industry group welcomed the U.S. military’s clearing of mines from the internationally recognized shipping lanes.

INTERTANKO said clearing the Strait’s Traffic Separation Scheme removes a major hazard that has hung over shipping for months. But that does not necessarily mean vessels can safely return to the traditional route.

“This is real progress and we welcome it,” INTERTANKO Marine Director Phillip Belcher said. “Clearing the shipping lanes is a necessary condition for the return of normal