Barnacles, not geopolitics, may delay oil supply recovery after Strait of Hormuz reopens

Crustaceans clinging to hulls pose new obstacle for stranded tankers

About 600 oil tankers remain stuck in the Strait of Hormuz

Barnacle removal alone expected to take considerable time

Workers remove barnacles from a ship's hull. (Photo not directly related to article.) [TikTok capture]

Even after the Strait of Hormuz blockade is lifted, global oil supply chains are unlikely to return to normal immediately, analysts warn. Tankers stranded in the strait for months have had their hulls blanketed by barnacles, mussels, clams and algae — marine growth that now threatens to disrupt operations.

CNN reported June 23 that hundreds of large oil tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz face a new challenge before they can resume sailing: cleaning their hulls.

Ships in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Musandam, Oman, on June 18. [Reuters]

The shipping industry expects a significant delay before normal operations can resume, citing "biofouling" — the accumulation of barnacles, mussels, clams, seaweed and other marine organisms on hull surfaces. Industry experts say the phenomenon goes beyond a simple cleanliness issue, directly affecting a vessel's operational efficiency and safety.

Very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, stretch more than 300 meters in length and about 45 meters in width, with an underwater hull surface area of roughly 14,000 square meters — making large-scale cleaning essential. In such cases, up to six divers working with scrapers and high-pressure washers need four to five hours to clear the marine growth.

The removal work itself is far from straightforward. Divers must use specialized equipment to strip organisms from the hull, and for creatures like barnacles that attach firmly to the surface, power grinders or hydraulic high-pressure washers are required. Care must be taken throughout to avoid damaging the hull's protective coating — any damage could lead to environmental regulation violations or insurance complications.

Propeller cleaning is even more demanding. In some cases, the propeller must be detached, cleaned and reinstalled, making it one of the most labor-intensive parts of the job.

About 600 vessels are believed to be waiting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, pointing to a substantial workload ahead for the industry. Brian McCully, who provides marine diving services in Long Island, New York, told CNN that "the work itself isn't difficult, but the sheer size of the vessels" makes it "too much for individual divers to handle."

Derek Ham, who runs a vessel-cleaning company in Florida, told CNN that "four months of tankers sitting in the Strait of Hormuz is more than enough time for a significant amount of marine life to accumulate on the hull," adding that "all of it needs to be removed before they can get underway again."

Ships in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Musandam, Oman, on June 22. [Reuters]

As demand for hull cleaning surges, so are the costs.

Aaron Sorensen, environmental officer at the Baltic and International Maritime Council, known as BIMCO, said hull-cleaning companies have recently been charging tens of thousands of dollars per vessel.

Despite the steep cost, the industry is pressing ahead with cleaning for reasons of safety and efficiency. Marine growth on a hull significantly increases water resistance, causing fuel efficiency to drop sharply. Shipping industry officials say the fuel burden is particularly heavy for tankers making long voyages from the Middle East to Asia or Australia.

Beyond fuel costs, excessive marine growth on propellers can reduce thrust, and organisms entering cooling-water intake valves can cause problems for a ship's cooling system.

Neil Roberts, head of marine and aviation at Lloyd's Market Association, said fuel costs account for roughly half of a vessel's operating expenses.

However, hull cleaning is no more than one of several hurdles standing between the current situation and a full resumption of crude oil transport, analysts note.

CNN cautioned that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would not immediately normalize oil supply, saying barnacles and marine life are where the current delays begin — but the problems do not end there.

yckim6452@heraldcorp.com