66 days stuck in PG, still waiting

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66 days trapped in the Strait of Hormuz

From an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, VG speaks with Indian captain Raman Kapoor (47) who tells us what it’s like. Watch the video here:

Siste nytt om krigen i Midtøsten

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BBC also interviwed Captain Raman Kapoor:

Captain of stranded ship in Strait of Hormuz tells BBC of 'pressure'

From The Economist today:

DAVID SIMONS

The sailors stranded in the strait

This week an American-flagged ship operated by Maersk, the world’s second-biggest shipping company, was one of the first escorted through the Strait of Hormuz by America’s navy since the war began. About 1,600 ships and 20,000 seafarers are stranded near the strait. Hopes of a reopening evaporated when Donald Trump paused his escort plan a day later.

Before the war Maersk moved about 40,000 containers in and out of the Gulf weekly. It has since suspended bookings in the region and imposed fuel surcharges elsewhere to offset choppy oil prices. The Danish firm already faced losses because it had ordered too many vessels during a post-pandemic boom. Its earnings on Thursday will show how much the war has hurt.

Even if Iran and America reach a deal, shipping lines should prepare for rougher sailing. The waterway is littered with Iranian mines. And nefarious actors near other chokepoints are wise to the leverage they can gain by threatening ships.