UKMTO Coordinates Emergency Response as Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), a Royal Navy-affiliated body located just outside Portsmouth, monitors commercial traffic in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and northern Indian Ocean. The office, equipped with a black telephone, is staffed by three watchkeepers on 12-hour shifts, supported by an analyst as needed, for a total crew of 18. When a vessel under attack dials the number, watchkeepers speak with the crew, alert nearby ships, and notify shipping companies, local coastguards and regional military forces. Watchkeepers describe the calls as highly stressful.

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Iran sealed the Strait of Hormuz more than two months ago in retaliation for U.S.–Israeli strikes, prompting a surge in attacks on merchant vessels. Threats have included missile fire, drone strikes, fast-attack craft and the suspected placement of naval mines. Commander Jo Black says the pattern has shifted from overt military action in early March to “constabulary” measures, such as vessel interrogations, verification of claims and occasional detentions. Iran has also issued new navigation rules for ships seeking safe passage.

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Since the conflict entered its third month, UKMTO has logged 44 incidents—damage, close-quarters encounters and near-misses—resulting in ten seafarer deaths. The centre processes about 2,500 voluntary position emails daily and can track vessels even when AIS transponders are switched off. Roughly 850 major merchant ships and 20,000 seafarers remain trapped in the Gulf, awaiting safe egress. Monitoring stations display multiple maps, including a red-boxed “hazardous area” where mines are suspected.

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Commander Jo Black stresses rapid information sharing, verification, and wide dissemination through UKMTO’s website and X platform. President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged ships to transit the strait and briefly launched an assistance operation, which was halted after 48 hours at the request of Pakistani mediators. Iran’s closure and its newly announced navigation rules are identified as the primary drivers of the heightened maritime risk.

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• “If you call UKMTO, you will get a response.” — Jo Black, head of operations

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• “The vessel may be actively under attack. You may hear alarms and sirens in the background. On occasion, we’ve even heard gunfire.” — Jo Black

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• “We take great pains to quickly but efficiently verify information that’s received to us.” — Jo Black

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• “What does the future hold? When are they next going to be able to get home and see their families? What does their contract and crew rotation look like?” — Jo Black

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The Strait of Hormuz carries a significant share of global oil, gas and fertilizer shipments; any disruption can affect worldwide commodity flows and underscores the waterway’s strategic importance.

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UKMTO will keep verifying incident reports, updating its X and website feeds, and coordinating with regional coastguards and military forces. The centre notes that seafarers face ongoing uncertainty about repatriation, contract continuity and crew rotation, with no set timeline for normal traffic to resume.

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