Maritime experts have described the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as significantly more complex and unpredictable than the 2021 Suez Canal blockage.
Mr Fred Asiedu Dartey, Head of Freight and Logistics at the Ghana Shippers Authority, and Captain Francis Kwesi Micah, a Maritime Consultant, shared these insights during a media forum organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on the theme: “Impact of the Closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Trade, Supply Chain and the Shipping Industry.”
Mr Dartey explained that the 2021 Suez Canal incident, caused by the Ever Given vessel, disrupted global trade and delayed goods valued at about 9.6 billion dollars, but was resolved within six days.
He noted that the Suez crisis stemmed from an operational error, which made it easier to address within a defined timeframe.
“But the good thing about that one was that it was an operational error, so immediately resources were put together, and over a period of six days, the vessel was pulled away and the channel was open for the free flow of vessels, so it had a finite duration,” he said.
He added that although the incident caused significant global disruption, a solution was quickly found due to its technical nature.
In contrast, Mr Dartey said the current Hormuz situation was driven by geopolitical tensions, making it far more uncertain and difficult to resolve.
“What we are dealing with today is a geopolitical conflict, one that nobody can predict the end of because of the changing dynamics between the parties involved,” he said.
Captain Micah indicated that more than 2,500 commercial vessels and about 20,000 seafarers were currently stranded in the Gulf region, highlighting the scale of the disruption.
He stressed that the two situations could not be compared, as the Suez Canal blockage was a navigational issue with a clear solution, while the Hormuz crisis lacks a definite timeline.
“If this situation worsens, prices of goods will rise significantly and the effects will be felt globally,” he warned.
Captain Micah explained that damage to refineries and production infrastructure would have long-term consequences, even if hostilities ended immediately.
He cautioned that restoring production capacity and supply chains could take months or even years, prolonging the impact on global trade.
“We are likely to be dealing with the effects of this crisis for a long time due to the extent of the damage and disruption,” he added.
