Strait of Hormuz transit — primary-source cross-walk

This page cross-walks what UKMTO, NAVCENT (via CTF 152 for the Persian Gulf), the Combined Maritime Forces, and the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre each publish about Strait of Hormuz transit. Each authority is described in its own words with a direct link to its publication. This is reporting, not operational guidance.

Disclaimer

Pre-departure: what each authority publishes

UKMTO (UK Maritime Trade Operations)

UKMTO is the primary point of contact for merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and wider Indian Ocean region. It publishes advisories, area warnings, and vessel-tracking notifications. Vessels are encouraged to register with the UKMTO Vessel Protection Detachment scheme before entry into the region. UKMTO publishes its current advisories and registration guidance at ukmto.org. The UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) and associated registration form are available on the same site.

NAVCENT (U.S. Naval Forces Central Command)

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) is the U.S. naval command authority for the region. Within CMF, CTF 152 holds the Persian Gulf maritime security mandate; CTF 153 covers the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. NAVCENT publishes advisories, maritime security communications, and notices to mariners through official U.S. Navy channels. Current releases are available at navcent.navy.mil. For Hormuz-specific guidance, NAVCENT advisories should be read alongside CMF publications.

CMF (Combined Maritime Forces)

The Combined Maritime Forces is a 47-nation coalition headquartered in Bahrain. It operates Combined Task Force 152 (Persian Gulf maritime security) and CTF 153 (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden). CMF publishes advisories and press releases at combinedmaritimeforces.com. Its "Maritime Security Communications with Industry" (MSCI) portal is the primary channel for formal advisories to commercial shipping.

IMB Piracy Reporting Centre

The International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) issues live piracy and armed-robbery warnings, publishes a quarterly piracy report, and maintains a 24-hour watch. Its weekly piracy reports and incident maps are published at icc-ccs.org/imb. The IMB PRC's scope includes the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.

Flag-state administrations

Flag-state maritime administrations issue their own advisories and may impose reporting obligations on vessels flying their flag transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The International Maritime Organization maintains a list of flag-state contacts at imo.org. The flag-state desk is the authoritative point of contact for requirements specific to vessels on your flag's register.

In-transit reporting channels

Each authority below publishes its own contact information on its official site. We link rather than re-hosting numbers and email addresses, which change without notice.

• UKMTO: 24-hour watchkeeper contacts are published at ukmto.org/contact-us. Voice and email channels are listed there.
• IMB PRC: The 24-hour duty officer is reachable via the contact information at icc-ccs.org/imb/contacts.
• NAVCENT Maritime Operations Center: U.S. Navy operating-area contact details are published through official U.S. Navy and CMF channels at combinedmaritimeforces.com/contact.
• Flag-state duty desk: Contact details are specific to your flag administration. Obtain these from your ship manager or flag-state registry before departure.

After an incident

Each authority below specifies what it expects vessels to report after a maritime security incident in or adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz.

• UKMTO: Incident reporting procedures and forms are published at ukmto.org/indian-ocean-region/report-an-incident. UKMTO asks vessels to report any attempted or successful boarding, weapons use, or threatening approach.
• IMB PRC: The IMB PRC's incident reporting form is at icc-ccs.org/imb/report-piracy. Reports should include vessel name, IMO number, incident time and position, and description of events.
• Flag-state procedures: Each flag state specifies its own post-incident reporting requirements, which may include formal casualty investigation. Contact your flag-state administration for the applicable procedure.
• P&I club: War-risk and P&I club notification requirements are set out in your club's rules and your specific policy. Contact your P&I correspondent immediately after any security incident.

What we do not publish

The following categories of information are outside the scope of this cross-walk. Operational decisions in each category belong with the persons and institutions listed.

• Routing recommendations. We do not recommend routes, anchorages, or waypoints. Routing belongs with the master, the company's designated person ashore, and any contracted maritime security company.
• Threat assessments by location. We do not assess threat levels for specific positions in the strait. Classified and operational threat assessments are available to vessels via their flag state, P&I club, and war-risk underwriter.
• Advice on whether to transit. The decision to transit, delay, or divert belongs with the shipowner, operator, charterer, and master acting on advice from their flag state, P&I club, and war-risk underwriter.
• Armed-guard carriage guidance. Armed guard use is governed by flag-state law, port-state law, and company policy. We do not publish guidance on that question.
• Interpretation of specific advisories. We report that advisories exist and link to them; we do not interpret what any advisory means for a specific voyage.

See also: UKMTO explained · Project Freedom · FAQ · Scam watch