The marine organisms accumulating on the hulls of more than 1,500 ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz could be transported to different parts of the world once the vessels resume their voyages, potentially creating a global “super-spreader” effect for biological invasions, Anadolu reports.

A study published in the journal Biological Invasions found that biofouling, consisting of marine microorganisms, algae, and invertebrates, can rapidly develop on the hulls of ships that remain stationary for extended periods. It notes that more than 1,500 large commercial vessels have become stranded following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on February 28.

The prolonged presence of these ships in the region allows local organisms to colonise their hulls, while also bringing together communities of organisms from different parts of the world on the same vessels.

Professor Mario Tamburri of the University of Maryland, the study’s lead author, tells Anadolu that the current situation represents a “worst-case scenario” compared with previous instances of ships being forced to wait for extended periods.

Tamburri says the risk stems from several factors occurring simultaneously.

“First, the number and size of the ships that have remained stationary, and second, the fact that this coincides with spring and summer, when marine organisms are in their growth and reproductive season,“ he adds.

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