The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued an advisory to vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz about maritime access restrictions that will affect Iranian ports and coastline.
On 13 Apr 2026, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Royal Navy's maritime coordination center, released a statement notifying that from 14:00 UTC (10:00 a.m. US Eastern Time) today, “maritime access restrictions are being enforced, impacting Iranian ports and coastal areas.”
This timing coincides with the US military's announced start of a full blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports from 10:00 a.m. ET today (21:00 Thai time on the same day).
The UKMTO advisory specifies that the restricted area covers the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz, including “the entire Iranian coastline along with ports and energy infrastructure.”
These measures apply to all vessels regardless of flag that have contact with “Iranian ports, oil transfer terminals, or coastal facilities.” Vessels from neutral countries currently docked in Iranian ports “are granted a limited grace period to depart.”
The UKMTO announcement adds that so far there are no reports of obstruction to vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz en route to destinations other than Iran. However, ships may encounter military deployments, direct communications, or inspection procedures while passing through.
The center is currently preparing further operational guidelines for vessels regarding these access restrictions.
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Source:cnn