At the ongoing Posidonia Shipping Exhibition in Athens, prominent Greek shipowner Marinakis sparked heated industry debate with a controversial viewpoint: global carriers should pay fixed transit charges to sail through the Strait of Hormuz rather than bear steep extra costs from long-distance rerouting.
Speaking at the TradeWinds maritime conference, Marinakis stated clearly: “For our business, paying a fixed USD 100,000 à 200,000 per vessel for Hormuz passage is far better than enduring continuous unexpected expenses.”
He calculated the real cost gap: War risk premiums have jumped from pre-conflict 0.2%-0.3% jusqu'à 5%-7.5%. Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope adds 12 à 15 extra sailing days and massive fuel consumption. Instead of volatile unpredictable surcharges, a fixed toll payable to Iran would stabilize overall expenditure for ship operators.
Why Some Vessel Owners Favor Fixed Hormuz Transit Charges
Marinakis revealed Capital Maritime has avoided vessel detention in the Persian Gulf purely by chance. Since regional tensions escalated, the firm suspended all Gulf-bound deployments.
“We refuse navigation amid ongoing conflict. Current high freight rates on alternative trade lanes make risky Hormuz voyages unnecessary to pursue marginal profits.”
This mindset is shared by major carriers including MSC and Maersk. Despite tentative ceasefire talks across the Middle East, persistently elevated war risk rates keep most large liners away from the Strait of Hormuz.
Three Practical Tips for Freight Forwarders & Shippers
- Inform clients of potential upcoming transit cost hikes without revising existing contractsThe open discussion over USD 100,000–200,000 per-ship toll signals possible future rate rises for Middle East shipments. Advise customers to reserve extra budget buffer, as current miscellaneous surcharges will stay high in the short run. Send proactive email updates to manage cost expectations.
- Separate war risk surcharge from base ocean freight on quotationsMost carriers enforce non-negotiable war risk fees for Middle East routes. Avoid bundling these extra charges into basic sea freight. List war surcharges as an independent line item, with a clause noting rates follow carrier’s real-time adjustment rules. Transparent billing reduces post-arrival billing disputes.
- Present two pricing options: Direct Hormuz vs Cape reroutingMost cargo now shifts to Cape of Good Hope detour or Khorfakkan transshipment. Explain to clients: Cape routing extends transit by 12–15 days yet cuts per-container expense by hundreds of US dollars. Offer dual quotations so shippers pick based on budget and leadtime demands.
Final Summary
While Marinakis’ toll proposal remains only an industry discussion for now, the proposed USD 100k–200k per vessel benchmark confirms Middle East shipping costs will not revert to pre-conflict levels anytime soon.
Huazong logistics optimize quotation structure, update contract terms and properly manage client cost expectations instead of waiting for full Hormuz route normalization.
