Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, driving high demand for ship‑cleaning crews

Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, firing warning shots and broadcasting a radio order for all vessels to stay away. While officials later said passage could be permitted after prior application, the shutdown has kept roughly 600 ships trapped in the Persian Gulf for about 16 weeks, the longest disruption of global energy markets in recent years.

The immobilised vessels have accumulated marine growth on their hulls, prompting a surge in demand for underwater cleaning teams. According to Manandeep Singh Kukreja of Dubai‑based Prominence Shipping Services, the price for cleaning a single ship has jumped from $5,000 to as much as $8,000, with orders increasing more than thirty‑fold. The cleaning crews are now working at rates comparable to a gold rush, as ports refuse entry to ships with fouled hulls due to invasive species risks and safety concerns.