1. About the Authority
The Hormuz Transit Clearance Authority (“HTCA”, “we”, “us”) administers transit clearance services for commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz corridor, including the Persian Gulf approach and the Gulf of Oman approach. These terms govern your access to and use of hormuztransitclearanceauthority.com (the “Portal”) and all services offered through it.
2. Eligibility
The Portal may be used only by authorised representatives of ship-owning companies, ship management companies, charterers, port agents, and P&I clubs acting on behalf of a vessel operator (“Applicant”). By submitting an application you warrant that you have authority to bind the vessel operator named in the application and that all information provided is accurate, complete, and not misleading.
3. Transit Clearance Certificates
3.1 A Transit Clearance Certificate (“Certificate”) is issued following receipt of a complete application and confirmed payment. The Certificate authorises a single transit of the named vessel through the Strait of Hormuz corridor on the date and in the direction stated.
3.2 A Certificate is vessel-specific, non-transferable, and valid for 72 hours from the stated transit date unless an Extended Validity add-on has been purchased.
3.3 HTCA reserves the right to withhold, suspend, or revoke a Certificate at any time where operational, safety, or security considerations require it. In such circumstances the fee paid will be refunded in full. No further liability arises.
3.4 Possession of a Certificate does not override the requirements of flag-state law, coastal-state regulations, SOLAS, MARPOL, or any other applicable international convention. The Applicant remains solely responsible for compliance with all such requirements.
4. Application Process
4.1 Applications must be submitted via the Portal no less than 24 hours before the intended transit date. Expedited applications submitted with less than 24 hours' notice are subject to the Expedited Processing surcharge and are accepted at HTCA's discretion.
4.2 HTCA may request additional documentation — including but not limited to the vessel's certificate of registry, class certificate, cargo manifest, and P&I cover confirmation — before issuing a Certificate. Failure to provide requested documentation within the time specified will result in cancellation of the application without refund.
4.3 Applications involving dangerous goods (as defined by the IMDG Code) require full DG declaration at the time of application. Undeclared dangerous goods are grounds for immediate revocation without refund and may be referred to the relevant coastal-state authority.
5. Fees and Payment
5.1 Fees are denominated in United States Dollars (USD) and are set out on the Fee Schedule page. HTCA reserves the right to amend the Fee Schedule with 30 days' notice published on the Portal.
5.2 Payment must be received in full within 48 hours of application submission. Applications for which payment is not received within this window will be automatically cancelled and must be resubmitted.
5.3 Payment is accepted by Bitcoin (BTC) at the prevailing BTC/USD rate at the time of transfer, or by such other methods as HTCA may publish on the Portal from time to time. The Applicant bears all transfer costs and is responsible for ensuring the net amount received equals the fee stated on the application. Shortfalls will be pursued for recovery.
5.4 Fleet discounts apply to the base transit fee only and are not applicable to add-on services including Anonymous Passage and Expedited Processing. Discount eligibility is determined at the time of application.
6. Refunds and Cancellations
6.1 Cancellations notified more than 48 hours before the stated transit date are eligible for a refund of the base transit fee, less a 10% administrative charge. Add-on fees are non-refundable.
6.2 Cancellations notified within 48 hours of the transit date, or after a Certificate has been issued, are non-refundable except where HTCA exercises its right under clause 3.3.
6.3 Refund requests must be submitted in writing to ops@hormuztransitclearanceauthority.com quoting the application reference number. Approved refunds will be processed within 10 business days to the originating payment method where practicable.
7. Anonymous Passage
The Anonymous Passage add-on suppresses the vessel's name from HTCA's public vessel board and public API outputs for the duration of the certified transit window. HTCA does not represent that the vessel will be invisible to third-party AIS aggregators, coastal-state authorities, or other monitoring systems. The add-on is provided on a best-efforts basis and confers no warranty of complete non-disclosure to any third party.
8. Accuracy of Vessel and Voyage Information
The Applicant is responsible for the accuracy of all vessel particulars, voyage details, and cargo information submitted. HTCA relies on submitted data in good faith. Any material inaccuracy — including incorrect IMO number, undeclared cargo, or misrepresented vessel type — voids the Certificate and relieves HTCA of any obligation to refund the fee paid.
9. Intellectual Property
All content on the Portal, including text, design, layout, graphics, and code, is the property of HTCA and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used for any commercial purpose without prior written consent. Live vessel data displayed on the Portal is sourced from third-party providers under open-data licences as attributed on the Portal; HTCA makes no warranty as to its accuracy or completeness.
10. Privacy and Data
Application data — including vessel particulars, operator details, and contact information — is collected solely for the purpose of processing transit clearances and is retained for a minimum of five years in accordance with maritime record-keeping requirements. Data is not sold to third parties. HTCA may disclose application data to coastal-state authorities or law-enforcement agencies where required by applicable law or where the safety of navigation demands it.
11. Limitation of Liability
11.1 HTCA's total liability to any Applicant arising from or in connection with a single application, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, shall not exceed the fee paid for that application.
11.2 HTCA shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or special loss including loss of charter revenue, demurrage, cargo loss, or reputational damage, however arising.
11.3 HTCA is not liable for delays in certificate issuance caused by incomplete applications, unpaid fees, force majeure events, or system downtime beyond HTCA's reasonable control.
12. Governing Law and Disputes
These terms and any dispute arising from them are governed by the applicable principles of international maritime law and, where domestic law applies, the law of the jurisdiction in which HTCA is registered. The parties agree to attempt to resolve disputes by good-faith negotiation before commencing formal proceedings. Nothing in this clause prevents HTCA from seeking urgent injunctive relief.
13. Amendments
HTCA may amend these terms at any time. Amendments take effect 14 days after publication on the Portal. Continued use of the Portal after that date constitutes acceptance of the amended terms. Applicants should review the terms periodically.
14. Contact
For queries regarding these terms or any application, contact:
Hormuz Transit Clearance Authority — Operations Desk
ops@hormuztransitclearanceauthority.com