Clearing sea mines from shipping lanes takes months
Even after a conflict ends, specialized ships must crawl at walking speeds to detect explosives, meaning vital trade routes cannot reopen overnight.
The reopening of a major maritime chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz is not as simple as declaring a ceasefire. When naval mines are deployed during a conflict, they create a persistent physical barrier that can take anywhere from 30 days to six months to clear. This delay persists even after political agreements are signed, as the risk to commercial vessels remains too high for insurers and captains to ignore.
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