Chaos in the Seas: When Iran and Israel Play War Games, Your Amazon Prime Order Pays the Price

The Map of Meaning Gets a Little Wetter

Well folks it seems the ever turbulent waters of the Middle East are getting choppier and not in a good way. Israel and Iran are shall we say having a bit of a disagreement. And as usual when the big boys start wrestling it's the little guys – in this case the global shipping industry – that end up paying the price. Marine insurers are now charging an arm and a leg – or rather 0.2% of a ship's value up from 0.125% – just to peek into the Persian Gulf. That's what I call a dragon guarding its hoard except this hoard is made of oil and questionable geopolitical decisions. You might ask yourself 'What does this have to do with me?' Well are you fond of having goods delivered to your doorstep? Do you enjoy filling up your gas tank without needing to sell a kidney? Then pay attention because chaos in the Middle East has a nasty habit of showing up on your credit card bill.

Clean Your Room Avoid Geopolitical Catastrophe

As the great Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said "The battleline between good and evil runs through the heart of every man." Apparently it also runs through the Red Sea where war risk insurance rates are climbing faster than my blood pressure after reading a particularly egregious piece of postmodernist literature. Ports in Israel? Cover's tripled my friends. Tripled! And if you think you have time to ponder your shipping options think again. Insurance quotes are valid for just 24 hours now. That's less time than it takes to properly organize your sock drawer. And let me tell you a well organized sock drawer is the first step towards world peace. Order in your own life translates to order in the world as any fool can plainly see. So clean your room!

Fresh Air and Fresh Attacks: A Middle Eastern Romp

The situation is 'contained within the region,' they say. Marcus Baker from Marsh McLennan assures us that cargo is still flowing. Ah yes 'contained.' Like a toddler with a bucket of paint meticulously applying it to every surface in the room. Sure it's 'contained' to the room but the consequences? They're going to be a pain to clean up. And let's not forget the Strait of Hormuz that narrow little slip of water that controls the global oil supply. Shipowners are starting to get the jitters and ships are taking detours. Why? Because nobody wants their multi million dollar vessel to become a geopolitical football. You know sometimes I think we're all just trying to navigate the chaos hoping we don't end up as collateral damage in someone else's grand narrative.

The Burden of Meaning: Oil Prices and Existential Dread

Jakob Larsen from Bimco notes a 'modest drop' in ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. 'Modest,' he says. As if a slight tremor before a volcanic eruption is just a 'modest' geological event. Look when ships start avoiding critical waterways that's not a good sign. It means people are scared. And when people are scared they tend to hoard resources drive up prices and generally act like lobsters in a boiling pot. Remember order and chaos are the parents of the world but they sure do fight a lot.

The River of Chaos and the Map of Order

The inability of oil to flow freely? That's a problem. A big problem. It raises global energy prices jacks up shipping costs and creates supply delays. Your next Amazon delivery might be a little late and you'll be paying more for gas. All because some folks can't seem to sort themselves out. What's the solution? Well that's the million dollar question isn't it? But I'll tell you one thing: it starts with individual responsibility. Take care of yourself take care of your family and maybe just maybe we can start to bring some order to this chaotic world.

Bucko Go Make Your Bed!

So what have we learned? First the Middle East is still a mess. Second global trade is fragile. And third cleaning your room might actually save the world. Okay maybe not but it's a start. Now go forth and confront the chaos armed with nothing but your own competence and a healthy dose of skepticism. And for heaven's sake make your bed!