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US Builds Global Coalition to Protect Gulf Shipping

   AMMAN, JORDAN - Washington has announced plans to create a
   multinational military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and
   Yemen, particularly shipping lanes in the Gulf. The development follows
   last month's attacks on oil tankers and the downing of a U.S. drone,
   blamed on Iran. And this week Britain said Iran tried to intercept a
   British tanker to push it into its waters. Shipping and other experts
   are welcoming the U.S. plans for a coalition, as their concerns mount
   over rising military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the impact on
   global energy. Iran has long threatened to close the strategic strait
   through which almost a fifth of the world's oil passes.

   Jakob Larsen is responsible for maritime security for Copenhagen
   based-BIMCO, the world's largest shipping association. He says shippers
   are watching the situation in the Gulf with "great concern."
   "First of all, for the safety of the seafarers who operate in this
   region and secondly, for the potential implications for the global
   economy and thereby the trade also in the region, but also globally,"
   he said. "When we have security issues like this in a strategic
   chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Oman, we see an
   increase in oil prices, fewer ship owners willing to go into the area;
   thereby, a reduction in the supply of shipping. And all is actually
   creating a negative effect in the global economy. And this also means a
   downward trend in shipping, in general, because what drives shipping is
   the global economy."

   The U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, says that as many as 17
   countries have been adversely affected by the recent tanker attacks,
   either directly or through crew, insurance or contracts, and an
   international force might hinder Iran or its surrogates from mounting
   further attacks. Larson says having a proactive security deterrent in
   the Gulf is important.

   "If we just left things as they are, the chance of a repeat of the
   incidents what we saw both in Fujairah on the 12th of May where 4
   tankers and the aircraft were attacked and then incidents on the 13th
   of June in the Gulf of Oman, we would probably see a repeat of that,
   unless of course the political situation changes completely," he said.

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