The Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration said that as of the end of March 3 it had identified eight ships with Vietnamese crew members active in the region.
The vessels are owned or managed by companies including PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation, PTSC Marine, Hai Duong Maritime, Petrolimex Tanker Corporation, NAVIHONOR Ship Management, Nhat Viet Transport and Ha Trang Petroleum Transport.
Several ships are anchored or operating near Ghasha Island in Abu Dhabi, the port of Dammam in Saudi Arabia, the Umm Qasr anchorage in Iraq and Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates.
Authorities said they were closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant agencies to safeguard vessels and crews. Based on information from the foreign ministry, risk assessments are under way and contingency measures are being prepared.
An online monitoring system has been set up to track Vietnamese vessels and seafarers in the Middle East, alongside a hotline to provide support if required.
The agency has urged shipowners and crewing firms to follow updates from foreign maritime authorities and the International Maritime Organisation, assess risks and adjust routes or operations where necessary.
Ships operating in the region have been instructed to adopt the highest security level, maintain regular communications and position reporting, and ensure automatic identification systems function properly. Crew members have also been advised to limit work on open decks when transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Companies have been asked to review information on vessels and personnel in the area and stay in close contact with Vietnamese authorities and diplomatic missions for assistance.
Rising tensions have already led several global shipping lines to impose war-risk surcharges or reroute vessels, increasing logistics costs for exporters and importers.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the region’s most sensitive chokepoints, has slowed sharply, with some carriers suspending or diverting services due to what they describe as extremely high risk.
The escalation has also clouded prospects of restoring normal shipping through the Red Sea in 2026, forcing some operators to consider longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope.
Vietnam’s private economic development research board warned that container freight rates could double or triple to more than USD 5,000 per 40-foot container as war-risk insurance and fuel surcharges climb in line with Brent crude prices.
Rerouting around southern Africa instead of using the Suez Canal would add 10 to 14 days to Asia-Europe voyages, placing further strain on supply chains, particularly for automotive parts, electronics and agricultural exports.
