Appraisal of Crisis Management Strategies Adopted by Shipping Companies in the Strait of Hormuz (2015 to 2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1011-5466Keywords:
Strait of Hormuz, Crisis Management, Shipping Companies, Maritime Security, Risk Assessment, Voyage Planning, Qualitative ResearchAbstract
This study appraises crisis management strategies adopted by shipping companies operating in the Strait of Hormuz between 2015 and 2025, a critical global maritime chokepoint responsible for about 20% to 21% of global petroleum transit. While existing studies largely emphasize the geopolitical and security significance of the corridor, limited attention has been given to how shipping companies design and implement crisis management strategies in response to operational disruptions. This study addresses this gap by examining company level crisis management practices among major operators including Maersk, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, COSCO Shipping, Euronav, Frontline Ltd, and Bahri. A qualitative research design was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with maritime professionals supported by documentary sources, and the data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings reveal that shipping companies employ integrated crisis management systems comprising preventive, real time response, and adaptive strategies. Intelligence driven risk assessment, scenario based voyage planning, crew preparedness, centralized control centres, multi-channel communication systems, and naval coordination strengthen operational responsiveness, while post incident reviews and protocol revisions promote organizational learning and continuous improvement. However, geopolitical instability, rising operational costs, human fatigue, and weak stakeholder coordination reduce the overall effectiveness of these strategies. The study contributes to maritime crisis management literature by providing empirical evidence on company level practices and concludes that effective crisis management depends on stronger integration of technology, human capacity, and institutional coordination to enhance resilience and operational continuity in high risk maritime corridors.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ismaila Hadi, Abubakar Baballe Abubakar, Murtala Sidi, Mohammed Sirajo Moriki, Mohammed Ibrahim Maikano, Mansur Abdulhameed Pada, Imrana Abdurrahman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
