US Cuts Strait of Hormuz Ship Escort Support Windows to Twice Daily as Costs Rise

The U.S. military has reduced ship escort support in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian attacks on commercial vessels have continued, to two windows a day, the Financial Times reported. The move appears to reflect mounting military and financial strain as the U.S.-Iran confrontation drags on.

The Financial Times reported on September 12 that the U.S. Navy's Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping, or NCAGS, recently told maritime officials it has been limiting recommended transit windows through the Strait of Hormuz to two periods a day since early September.

NCAGS said vessels do not have to pass during those windows, but recommended using them to receive the best available support.

The U.S. military has provided air defense support since May for commercial ships traveling along Oman's coast south of the Strait of Hormuz. The measure is intended to deter Iranian attacks and minimize disruptions to oil shipments through the Persian Gulf.

Maritime clashes between the U.S. and Iran have intensified recently. Iran said it attacked 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on September 9, in what was reported to be the largest assault on commercial shipping since the war began. Since February, about 70 commercial ships have come under Iranian attack, the report said.

Experts say the latest step is meant to reduce the cost of maintaining continuous escort operations. Joshua Tallis, a researcher at CNA, said operating advanced U.S. military aircraft costs $25,000 to $75,000 an hour, and that the move is aimed at managing the cost of defending shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz over a prolonged period.