LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Several tanker owners, oil majors and trading houses have suspended crude oil, fuel and liquefied natural gas shipments via the Strait of after the U.S. and Israel and Tehran said it had closed navigation, trading sources said on Saturday.
Greece's shipping ministry advised vessels on Saturday to avoid the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, according to an advisory seen by Reuters.
Some 20% of global oil, including from producers Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait and Iran, passes through Hormuz along with large volumes of LNG from Qatar.
Fourteen LNG tankers have shown signs of slowing down, U-turning or stopping in or around the Strait, said Laura Page from consultancy Kpler, adding that the number would likely rise, posing risks to Qatari LNG exports.
German container-shipping group Hapag-Lloyd (HLAG.DE), opens new tab said it is suspending all vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. Services calling on ports in the Gulf may experience delays, rerouting or schedule adjustments, the company said.
Denmark's Maersk (MAERSKb.CO), opens new tab said in an undated update on its website that it was coordinating with security partners on all operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden but cargo acceptance in the Middle East remained open.
French shipping group CMA CGM said it had told its vessels inside or headed for the Gulf to proceed to shelter after the United States and Israel attacked Iran.