Qatar’s Ministry of Transport has announced a temporary suspension of maritime navigation and marine activities to ensure public safety. The ministry has advised owners and users of various vessels, including leisure boats and fishing boats, to halt sailing until further notice. This precautionary measure excludes vessels operating under international maritime conventions.
The ministry coordinated this action with relevant security authorities, emphasizing the importance of compliance with the directive and obtaining updates from official sources only. In a separate statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry strongly denounced recent Iranian attacks on its territory and neighboring countries, citing violations of sovereignty and international law.
Despite Iran’s announcement of the Strait of Hormuz closure, the southern route along the Omani coast remains open for two-way traffic, as confirmed by the US-led Joint Maritime Information Centre. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations highlighted information from the US Naval Forces Central Command, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway not subject to unilateral control.
US forces are prepared to ensure freedom of navigation and protect lawful commerce in the region, emphasizing that the southern route through the Strait remains accessible. The maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz is categorized as “severe,” with a specific warning for mariners to be cautious of a mine danger area within the traditional Traffic Separation Scheme.
Due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, the traditional Traffic Separation Scheme in the Strait of Hormuz is no longer safe for navigation due to the mine threat. Following a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, two alternative transit routes have emerged: a northern route controlled by Iran and a southern route along the Omani coast supported by US forces for navigation.
