Shipping firms question safety in strait of Hormuz despite Trump plan

The world’s shipping industry has questioned if vessels will be able to travel safely to and from the Gulf after Donald Trump announced his latest plan to open the strait of Hormuz. The US president wrote on Monday that the navy would “guide” stranded ships out of the waterway, writing on his social media site Truth Social that the operation, “Project Freedom”, would be a humanitarian gesture “on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran”. But within hours Iran’s Fars news agency reported a US warship intending to pass through the strait had been hit by two missiles and turned back after ignoring an Iranian warning . The US denied its ship had been hit . Brent crude rose about 2% to $110.36 a barrel amid the conflicting reports. The US Central Command (Centcom) said two US-flagged merchant vessels had “successfully transited” through the strait of Hormuz. Shipping industry experts questioned if the president’s plan could be sustainable or whether it will be a limited operation to get some of the trapped ships out. Sascha Meijer, the general secretary of the seafarers’ union Nautilus, said: “Seafarers stuck in the strait would really appreciate protection to get ships sailing out. …