Shipping company CEO after Hormuz announcement: Cautiously optimistic
Updated 09.37 | Published 09.24
The Strait of Hormuz is to be opened.
But there is no sound or cheering from the ships yet.
– We have not gotten anywhere, says Stena Bulk CEO Erik Hånell.
Iran and the US have reached an agreement.
A two-week ceasefire is being exchanged for an opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is so important to the world economy.
The Swedish shipping company Stena Bulk has a handful of ships waiting in it, and has not yet received any official information about what will happen next.
– No, no clear information yet, but I get my updates mostly through the press. We have to give it the day to get an idea of what this will mean for shipping, for our ships and what conditions exist, says CEO Erik Hånell.
“Cautiously optimistic”
How do you feel now?
– At this point, I am cautiously optimistic that the conditions will be created for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened up with some kind of structure that hopefully works for all parties.
The Danish shipping giant Maersk says in a comment to Aftonbladet that they welcome the ceasefire and the announced opening of the strait.
“Although for the time being for a limited period. The information and details that are available are still very limited, and we are working urgently to obtain further clarity,” the company writes in an email.
“Ongoing risk assessments”
They continue to take all risks into account.
“The ceasefire may create opportunities for passage, but it does not yet provide full maritime predictability and we need to understand all possible conditions that may be linked to it,” the company writes and continues:
“The safety of our seafarers, ships and cargo remains Maersk’s highest priority. All decisions to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be based on ongoing risk assessments, close monitoring of the security situation and available guidance from relevant authorities and partners.”
Erik Hånell at Swedish Stena Bulk is still waiting for his ship to move.
– But it is still early. This agreement was finalized at 1 am last night Swedish time, so I think we will have to give it during the day here and then we will hopefully see ship movements that primarily pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Of course under pressure”
How will it work logistically when the strait opens?
– It is a much larger area than you might imagine. I don't think there will be any major challenges in being able to pass when the opportunity arises. There will be more traffic than usual.
– I suspect that between 1,500–2,000 ships are stuck in this situation. I don't think there should be any physical limitation on how many can pass initially, says Erik Hånell.
How is the crew feeling in his situation?
– They are of course under both pressure and stress because this has been going on for so long now. We are trying to manage it by giving them as much information as we can.
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