Iran-Oman Strait of Hormuz Plan Proposes Maritime Service Fees for Ships: Report

MUSCAT, Aug 6: A proposed Iran-Oman framework for managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz includes plans to impose service fees on vessels using the strategic waterway, according to a source at Iran’s Foreign Ministry cited by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency.

Under the reported proposal, ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would pay charges for maritime services, including insurance, fuel supply, environmental protection, and other support services. The source denied reports that Iran and Oman were negotiating fixed fees of either 3% or 7% of cargo value, saying the charges would depend on the services provided and other factors.

The framework reportedly includes a transitional phase in which vessels would enter through the northern shipping lane near Iran’s coast and exit through the southern lane near Oman. In a later phase, the existing lanes would be replaced by a centrally managed shipping corridor, with inbound traffic overseen by Iran and outbound traffic managed jointly by Iran and Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes, handles a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments, making any changes to its maritime management a matter of international interest.