Idle ships in Hormuz could spark a global marine biosecurity crisis

With more than 1,500 ships idling in the Strait of Hormuz, scientists warn this prolonged lay-up creates ideal conditions for marine microbes, algae, barnacles and other organisms to colonize ships’ hulls and ballast water, potentially spreading invasive species worldwide when ships move again—a biological ‘superspreader’ event. A July study in Biological Invasions highlights risks to ecosystems and human health, and experts suggest in‑water hull cleaning and enhanced port monitoring at high‑risk hubs to limit spread, citing zebra mussels as a cautionary example.