No. of Recommendations: 1
Does Egypt charge a toll to use the Suez? Does Panama charge a toll to use it's canal? Welland Canal? St Lawrence Seaway?
"Ah" you say, "the strait is a naturally occurring waterway that does not need continual maintenance and staff to operate". I would counter that the necessary staffing to coordinate activities to shepherd a ship through a war zone, when your guys are shooting at everything else, incurs significant costs.
Ship owners always have the option of not paying the toll, and taking their chances. It's not like Panama, where, if you don't pay the toll, they don't open the lock gates for you.
Steve
