Mark Hilborne
ON THE RECORD · 8 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“A single announcement, while welcome, will not bring an immediate drop in the rates.”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne said a single announcement about mine clearance will not bring an immediate drop in insurance rates.
“The claims that the mines have been cleared relate to those that are known to have been deployed in the key lanes,”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne clarified that claims of cleared mines relate only to those known to have been deployed in the key shipping lanes.
“It is not particularly likely that there are any in the main shipping lanes due to the level of monitoring, but there may be risks beyond the lanes.”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne explained that due to the level of monitoring, mines are not likely in the main shipping lanes but risks may exist beyond them.
“The claim that the mines have been cleared came from CENTCOM initially, and in this we can have strong confidence,”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne told Al Jazeera there is good reason to trust the US assessment that mines have been cleared, as the claim originated from CENTCOM.
“It is possible that there are a few loose mines, or ‘ghost’ mines,”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne said that while main shipping lanes may be clear, a few loose or ghost mines could remain.
“Insurance premiums are likely to remain high,”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne said war-risk insurance premiums are likely to remain high until there is a protracted period of calm.
“These will not come down until there has been a protracted period of calm.”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne said insurance premiums will not come down until there has been a protracted period of calm.
“So while the shipping lanes might currently be clear, that does not mean that the threat has permanently disappeared,”
Mark Hilborne · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Hilborne noted that even if shipping lanes are currently clear, Iran retains the ability to deploy more mines.