Maritime security concerns are rising in the Middle East as two Quebec-based ships are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf due to escalating geopolitical tensions and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. The situation highlights the increasing risks to global shipping lanes amid ongoing conflict in the region.
According to Serge Le Guellec, CEO of Groupe Desgagnés, the company’s two vessels are immobilized, but the 32 crew members are safe and maintain contact with their families via the internet. “The main issue for these ships is getting out of the Persian Gulf,” Le Guellec stated, as reported by Reddit.
The transport company, specializing in heavy cargo and industrial goods, typically repositions its ships internationally during the winter months before returning to the Canadian Arctic for the summer season. A return to Canada is not anticipated before May.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil and natural gas supplies, has seen increased restrictions following a declaration by Iran claiming “total” control of the strait, according to Le Devoir. The sector has designated the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman as a “war operations zone,” granting enhanced rights to mariners, including the right to request repatriation at the shipowner’s expense.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly decreased by 90%, according to data from Kpler. Approximately 20,000 mariners and 15,000 passengers are currently affected by the disruptions, as reported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Le Guellec explained to 98.5 FM that “the only way to get out is to go through the Strait of Hormuz, and for the moment the risks are too high.” The development underscores the vulnerability of international trade routes to geopolitical instability.
According to Le Journal de Québec, the situation marks the first time the company has faced a blockade of a strategic strait.
