Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Rejects Iranian Transit Fees for Strait of Hormuz Passages

Story Summary
Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) confirmed that three of its vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz in April without paying transit fees proposed by Tehran. MOL President Jotaro Tamura stated the company adheres to international law regarding maritime navigation and has no intention of paying such tolls in the future. The Strait remains a critical global energy artery, accounting for approximately one-fifth of seaborne crude oil and LNG flows. While MOL credited the cooperation of relevant stakeholders for the safe passage of its LNG and LPG carriers, the situation remains high-stakes; the U.S. Treasury has explicitly warned that any shipper paying these Iranian tolls faces the risk of severe punitive sanctions, complicating logistics for global energy firms operating in the region.





