Around 130 container vessels linked to the Philippines remain trapped in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and effective blockade, straining exports and goods flow, a shipping executive told a Senate panel on April 8. This follows recent diplomatic assurances from Iran for Philippine ships.
Patrick Ronas, president of the Association of International Shipping Lines (ASIL) with 36 member firms, informed the Senate agriculture committee on April 8 that about 130 container ships linked to Philippine interests are trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, with few able to exit. General cargo vessels and some tankers face similar challenges.
ASIL raised alarms in a trade department meeting about Philippine exports failing to reach destinations. Ships typically discharge cargo in Khor Fakkan, UAE, before the strait, then trucked onward. "Vessels trapped in the strait have led to service diversions, network reassessments, and containers offloaded to other ports," Ronas said.
This comes after Iran's April 2 assurance—secured via diplomacy including a designation as a 'non-hostile country'—for safe passage of Philippine-flagged vessels and energy shipments. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) reports only four Philippine-flagged ships in the conflict's 'danger zone,' not necessarily in the strait but routing through it. Iran has permitted two to pass: a tanker to India and a bulk carrier to China, per MARINA spokesman Lui delos Santos.
