Iran To Hold New Wargames Soon In Key Oil Waterway

[Purveyor]

Iran is to hold fresh military exercises in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz within weeks, the naval commander of its powerful Revolutionary Guards was quoted as saying on Friday.

The manoeuvres are to be held in the Iranian calendar month that runs from January 21 to February 19, the Fars news agency quoted Ali Fadavi as saying.

They will underline Iran’s assertion that it has “full control over the Strait of Hormuz area and controls all movements in it,” Fadavi added.

The announcement — which narrowed down a timeframe for the exercises the Guards had previously only given as “soon” — risked aggravating tensions with the West over the strait.

MORE...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/06/iran-to-hold-new-wargames-soon-in-key-oil-waterway/

[Old and In the Way]

1. I'd really like to know what the international 'rules of the road' are there.

From Google Earth, the Strait appears to be about 26 miles at its widest level. Assuming a 12 mile international boundry for both Iran and territory(?) of Musandam, that leaves about a 2 mile channel for shipping. I'm wondering if these international boundries are established in the Straits or whether traffic has special rules for the Straight...or do they use shipping lanes inside the Musandam international boundry lines? 2 miles does not seem adequate, given the amount of shipping and the cargo these ships are carrying.

[Poll_Blind]

2. To the contrary- while I really don't know for sure, I would not be surprised if such a narrow...

...channel was used. Tankers in the gulf are outfitted with GPS technology which would easily allow them to traverse such a narrow passage- if it really were necessary. I'm not sure it is, but I want to say I've seen some video or pictures from the Straight which show tankers moving in (relatively) close proximity of each other. I can also think of a few insurance-related reasons why they would want to keep to the safest (politically) passage through, as they meander towards their destination.

Just a thought. As I said, I could be wrong.

PB

[Old and In the Way]

6. These super tankers most certainly do use GPS navigation...probably multiple

navigation aids (channel buoy beacons, radar, etc.). While they probably move relatively slow, the outgoing tankers have a lot of inertial momentum and are not quick to change course or stop. Probably a very tricky area to navigate in the best of times...under the present circumstances, it must be even more stressful for the typical Captain trying to thread the needle.

[leveymg]

4. There are two main shipping channels running in opposite directions.

I think that both sets of shipping lanes run through Iranian territorial waters, at least on the inbound channel.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Sure looks that way, Mark.

Thanks for posting the graphic. Seems to me Iran could enforce their territorial limits and this would certainly become a disruptive action for getting oil out of the Gulf. Perhaps the lanes could be moved closer or into Oman's territorial waters if Iran imposed such an action. Interesting that the Persian Gulf incoming lane hugs the Iranian coastline, rather than moving to the middle of the Gulf.

[Johnyawl]

8. transit of the straits of Hormuz are governed by international law

This is governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, specifically the concept of Transit passage. Transit passage exists throughout the entire strait and not just the area overlapped by the territorial sea of the coastal nations. The ships and aircraft of all nations, including warships, auxiliaries, and military aircraft, enjoy the right of unimpeded transit passage in such straits and their approaches. Submarines are free to transit international straits submerged, since that is their normal mode of operation. The legal regime of transit passage exists in the most important straits for the international trade exchange and security (Strait of Gibraltar, Dover Strait, Strait of Hormuz , Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca).

If Iran impedes any traffic at all, even in their territorial waters of the straits, it will be in violation of the UN convention on the law of the sea, and an act of war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_passage

edited to correct spelling and add link

[Old and In the Way]

9. Interesting...I figured there had to be special laws for such geographically strategic waters.

Thanks for posting.

[hack89]

11. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea allows for transit of all vessels through the Straits

Iran cannot legally block the straits.

[msongs]

3. how bout sailing through the waters closer to the Arabian penninsula than to Iran. hmm nt

[Old and In the Way]

7. Depends on the water depth, I'd think.

I imagine these channels are dredged and deep enough to allow filled tankers to transit without a problem. It would be interesting to see the depth charts for the Straits to see how deep the Oman/UAE side of the Straits are.

On edit-

here's a chart of the Straits

Looks like it's not as shallow as I thought, but the chart doesn't show the entrance area.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jksonc/docs/ir655-chart-2888-1580px.html

[Puregonzo1188]

10. Well, we've been playing wargames in the Persian Gulf since when--2006 now?

Of course, responding to saber rattling with more saber rattling is always a dumb strategy.