The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important shipping routes in the world. A significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports pass through the Strait.Image: keystone
July 14, 2026, 12:52 p.mJuly 14, 2026, 12:52 p.m
US President Trump wants to demand money for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. What German shipowners think about it.
German shipowners sharply criticize US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will in future charge a kind of protection fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. “No individual state should make free access to an international waterway unilaterally dependent on fees,” said the managing director of the Association of German Shipowners (VDR), Martin Kröger, to “Wirtschaftswoche”. “That wouldn’t be legally permissible either.”
Trump had previously reinstated the US naval blockade against Iran and said he would impose a fee of 20 percent of the value of cargo on all ships passing through the strategically important strait. This should cover the US costs for protecting the Strait of Hormuz, the US President wrote.
What will happen to free shipping?
VDR boss Krüger said that with his initiative, Trump was questioning the system of free shipping. “Today it’s about the Strait of Hormuz, tomorrow it’s about the Strait of Malacca, the day after tomorrow it’s about the next international strait. Where is this supposed to end?” said Kröger. At the same time, he warned of high costs for consumers and the global economy.
“The consequences would be higher transport costs, rising consumer prices and a further loss of reliability for global trade,” said the head of the association. That cannot be in the interest of the international community. “Civil merchant shipping must not become a pawn in geopolitical disputes.”
20 ships with a connection to Germany in the region
The USA had recently intensified its attacks on Iran again. In return, Iran fired on US facilities in the Gulf states. The Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route for the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas, has been almost impassable since the beginning of the war.
According to VDR information, there are currently around 20 ships under German ownership or management in the region. According to the VDR, around 50 ships with German connections were originally stuck in the Persian Gulf – three of these ships have since been attacked.
“Disaster for planning security”
“Safe shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has not been guaranteed since the end of February – almost half a year,” said Kröger. “This is tragic for the seafarers and at the same time a catastrophe for the planning security of the shipping companies on which international trade depends.”
However, the waterway is not completely cordoned off militarily. “Individual passages continue to take place with a high level of security and in close coordination with the navies on site – but at a significantly reduced level and with a significantly increased risk,” said Kröger. However, many shipping companies waited to see further developments. (sda/dpa)