Vietnam maritime authority proposes seeking Iran support for ships as Hormuz tensions disrupt shipping

The Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterway Administration (VIMAWA) said in a report to the Ministry of Construction that the vessels are operating in the Middle East, including four flying the Vietnamese flag and 15 under foreign flags but owned by Vietnamese companies.

The Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global oil supplies, has been effectively shut or severely disrupted since a conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel erupted in late February, with attacks on vessels, mines, and missile threats deterring commercial traffic.

The VIMAWA said shipping firms had asked authorities to engage Iran to facilitate safe navigation for vessels owned by Vietnamese companies and crewed by Vietnamese seafarers in the Gulf and the strait.

It proposed that the construction ministry ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with its Iranian counterpart to support Vietnamese vessels and crews, including issuing an official notice allowing their transit.

The authority said such confirmation would help shipping firms secure war-risk insurance, which some insurers have declined to provide without formal assurances.

It recommended prioritizing passage for Vietnamese-flagged vessels carrying cargo between the Middle East and Vietnam, followed by foreign-flagged vessels owned by Vietnamese firms with Vietnamese crews.

The VIMAWA also urged Iran to facilitate the movement of vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products to Vietnam to help ensure stable energy supply.

It added that Vietnamese diplomatic missions in the Middle East should monitor developments and provide support to vessels and seafarers in emergencies.

Separately, the authority proposed reducing fees to zero Vietnamese dong per gross tonnage for ships entering and leaving local maritime areas to help shipping firms cope with rising fuel costs.