The vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane is expected to reopen on Friday after nearly four months, following the signing of a US-Iran agreement to end the Middle East war.
AFP examines how the reopening could work and why a return to normal is likely to take time.
Are ships ready?
Once formal approval is given to reopen, stranded ships could theoretically begin to move through the strait almost immediately.
Crews that have been idle for months will most likely have “performed regular onboard drills and maintained the ships’ machinery, technical installations and equipment”, Jakob Larsen, head of security at shipowners’ association Bimco, told AFP.
