Nordic American Tankers CEO Herbjorn Hansson argues the Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon because international pressure is too strong for Iran and the U.S. to keep it constrained. He says the main issue is crew safety, not commercial access, and notes tanker rates are already very strong.
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In this CNBC interview, Herbjorn Hansson, founder, chair, and CEO of Nordic American Tankers, is asked whether his ships can safely transit the Strait of Hormuz and whether the fleet still needs the strait given Red Sea/Yanbu routing changes. Hansson’s core message is that the strait will reopen “sooner than later,” possibly within days, a week, or at most a month, because global pressure is building and 20% of the world’s oil passes through the passage. He repeatedly frames the issue as a safety matter for crews rather than a commercial problem for the company. He says NAT would go through if the appropriate UN-related authority gives the go-ahead, and he emphasizes that the company is not advising politicians or taking a political stance. He also says he has seen similar situations in the early 1970s and around the Suez Canal closure. …
Tactically, tanker sentiment stays supported as long as Hormuz risk keeps routes uncertain; the immediate watch item is whether the strait stays open and permissions for transit normalize. Any renewed disruption would be an upside catalyst for tanker rates but a safety and operational risk for operators.
Over the next few weeks to months, the base case here is de-escalation and reopening of transit, which would reduce the headline risk premium but may leave rates firmer than normal. The setup weakens only if diplomatic pressure fails and the chokepoint remains contested longer than management expects.
Structurally, the interview reinforces that chokepoint geopolitics is a persistent feature of global energy logistics. For tanker operators, recurring route disruptions can create cyclical rate spikes, but the deeper regime thesis is that strategic waterways cannot stay shut for long without forcing broader international intervention.
The Strait of Hormuz will reopen sooner rather than later.
Speaker repeatedly says there is 'no question' the strait will be open and expects it soon.
Crew safety is the main concern for transiting ships.
He explicitly says safety of the crew is the primary issue, not commercial access.
International pressure is too strong to keep Hormuz closed.
He argues global pressure, including China's involvement, will force an agreement.
Would one of your ships be able and willing safely today to go through the Strait of Hormuz?
Hansson says yes, but only with proper go-ahead and crew safety considerations; he believes the strait will open soon.
Why do you think the strait will reopen soon?
He says the parties must reach agreement because international pressure is too intense for the strait to stay locked up, especially since so much oil flows through it.
Could Iran continue to use its influence in the Strait of Hormuz even as the conflict winds down?
Hansson acknowledges history and politics but repeats that the two sides must agree and says his company is focused on safety, not politics.
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