In the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important sea routes in the world, now not one, but three different routes are being used for ships. Iran has determined a new traffic route in its territorial waters, while Oman and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have proposed an alternative southern route. Apart from this, many ships are still using the old pre-war route, which Iran has declared a danger zone. In such a situation, the question is why there was a need for three routes in Hormuz, which route is the safest and what impact it can have on global oil trade. In this special story, understand the complete mathematics of the three sea routes of Hormuz.
After all, why were three sea lanes built in Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest sea routes, through which large quantities of crude oil and gas are transported around the world. Following recent security tensions, Iran has established a new traffic route passing through its territorial waters to control the movement of ships. On the other hand, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Oman have proposed an alternative route towards the south keeping in mind the safety of ships. Despite this, many ships are still using the old central pre-war route. This means that at present there is movement of ships through three different sea routes in Hormuz.
What is the difference between the three paths and who is supporting whom?
The first way is the traffic separation scheme decided by Iran, which was demanded to be implemented from June 19, 2026. It passes entirely through Iran’s territorial waters. The second route is the southern route proposed by Oman and IMO, which is considered a safe option at the international level, but Iran has not accepted it. The third is the old pre-war route, which has already been in use. However, Iran had declared it a ‘danger zone’ in April 2026. Despite this, some ships are still passing through this route.
Why is Hormuz so sensitive?
The Strait of Hormuz is only 24 miles wide at its narrowest. It is located between Iran and Oman and the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of both countries meet in between. Due to the passage being extremely narrow, large ships have very little room to change direction or avoid danger. For this reason, it becomes difficult for ships to respond immediately in case of any security threat. This is the reason why this sea route is counted among the most sensitive and strategic waterways of the world.
What does international law say and what is the situation now?
According to UNCLOS, the maritime law of the United Nations, ships of all countries have the right to ‘innocent passage’ i.e. peaceful movement through the territorial waters of any other country. Also, the coastal country cannot hinder the normal movement of foreign ships without proper reason. However, if the activity of a ship is considered a threat to security, the country concerned can take necessary steps. According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the movement of ships from Hormuz has remained normal in recent days, but the security risks have not completely ended. Therefore, ships are still being advised to exercise extra caution.
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