War

More than 800 ships are still stranded in the waters of the Arabian Gulf despite a ceasefire agreement that is said to be able to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The main problem, the details of the agreement are not yet fully clear so many ship owners are not yet brave to move their fleets.
According to a report by Arab News quoted on Wednesday, April 8, the ship owners are now trying to understand the exact details of the deal that could potentially open up the important shipping lanes. They hope there will be room to move the ships that have been stuck around the strait for weeks.
The near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supplies. After the war triggered by the attacks of the United States and Israel, Iran took control of the strait. Since then, ship traffic has slowed sharply because there is no guarantee of safety for the crew and cargo after a number of attacks have occurred.
A ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump expired. As part of the deal, the strait was promised to be reopened.
However, the two sides' versions are still different. Iran stated that it agreed to a two-week safe navigation coordinated with its armed forces and remained subject to "technical restrictions". Meanwhile, Trump announced a "full, immediate, and safe" opening. It is also unclear whether the two sides have agreed on the costs imposed by Tehran.
The shipping industry welcomed the news with caution. Still launching an Arab News report, the Japanese Shipowner Association, for example, said it would verify the details of the deal first before providing further information.
They also reminded that global shipping traffic cannot recover immediately. In normal conditions, about 135 ships cross the Strait of Hormuz every day. The figure has now dropped sharply.
Based on data from Kpler, a global shipping and commodities monitoring company, shows that energy vessels dominate the fleet trapped in the Gulf waters. There are 426 crude oil and clean fuel tankers, 34 LPG carriers, and 19 LNG carriers. Other ships carry dry goods such as agricultural products, minerals, and containers.
According to the International Maritime Organization at the end of March, about 20,000 civilian sailors are still stranded on the ships, including service and support vessels. The UN agency warned the crew of shortages of supplies, fatigue, and psychological stress.