The Strait of Hormuz: A systems engineering view on the $20k drone threat
Systems engineering analysis of the Strait of Hormuz as a critical chokepoint, examining how insurance policy changes, narrow shipping corridors, and vulnerable desalination infrastructure create cascading failure risks to global logistics and water security in the Middle East.
Instead of the usual military focus, I analyzed this chokepoint strictly through a systems failure and thermodynamic lens. Specifically:
How a single policy cancellation from maritime war-risk insurers at Lloyd's of London would freeze the global fleet in port instantly.
The physical constraints of the two 3km-wide shipping corridors.
How cities like Dubai and Riyadh rely entirely on desalination plants with only a strict 72-hour water buffer before total collapse.
I put together a 10-minute visual here:https://youtu.be/eLuuja8UWb0
Would love to hear your thoughts on the structural vulnerabilities of this node.