LONDON/ATHENS ¨C Shipping companies are avoiding using a U.S. military-guided transit operation through the Strait of Hormuz after a wave of Iranian attacks on vessels sparked safety concerns, seven maritime security and shipping industry sources said.
For decades ships sailed into and out of the Gulf using a safe set of lanes down the middle of the strait established by the U.N.¡¯s shipping agency in 1968 dubbed the Traffic Separation Scheme.
Since the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø ?began on Feb. 28, Iranian forces have mined this area, forcing vessels to use one of two makeshift routes close to either the Iranian or Omani coast.
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