Strait of Hormuz: Tanker Traffic Drops Amidst Middle East Conflict
The flow of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dwindled to a trickle, with just nine tankers, cargo ships and container vessels recorded passing through the critical waterway since , according to data analyzed by the Agence France-Presse (AFP). The dramatic reduction in transit numbers comes after attacks on three ships on , and amid escalating regional tensions following Iranian retaliatory strikes against targets in Israel and attacks by the U.S. And Israel on Iranian assets.
The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint of global energy security, normally handling approximately 20% of the world’s crude oil and around 20% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. The near-blockade is raising concerns about potential disruptions to global energy markets and broader economic consequences.
AFP’s analysis, based on data from MarineTraffic, counted only vessels emitting signals on both sides of the strait, acknowledging that some ships may have switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to obscure their movements. This practice, while not uncommon, adds to the uncertainty surrounding the current situation.
Despite the heightened risks, some tankers are continuing to navigate the strait, albeit with increased caution. Matt Wright, an analyst with the data firm Kpler, noted that several vessels have been traveling with their AIS systems deactivated. The Kavomaleas, for example, emitted a signal east of the strait on and another in the Gulf approximately 14 hours later. A Panama-registered container ship, 130 meters in length, departed Pakistan on and was observed within the strait by morning.
Other vessels recently transiting the strait include the Pushpak, designed for petroleum product transport, which left the Gulf on evening after departing an Iraqi port, and the Hout, a Comoros-registered cargo ship that departed Dubai on bound for a port in southeastern Iran. The Danuta I, a 225-meter long LNG carrier subject to U.S. Sanctions, crossed the Strait of Hormuz at dawn on . The Athina, identified by the Financial Times, was located east of the strait on and transmitted a position west of Hormuz on . The Financial Times reported that the Athina had loaded oil in Bahrain before resuming its journey, but has not transmitted a signal since afternoon.
The Financial Times too reported that at least five ships belonging to the Dynacom company have passed through the strait since , all with their transponders switched off. This practice underscores the level of concern among shipping companies operating in the region.
Most shipping companies have suspended operations, and the passage remains extremely dangerous, as demonstrated by the Safeen Prestige, which was hit by projectiles while traveling east from the Gulf on , according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (Ukmto).
The current crisis follows a pattern of Iranian threats to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a tactic employed during periods of heightened geopolitical tension since 1979. The waterway has been the focus of repeated threats, particularly during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) and more recently between 2018 and 2022.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has asserted “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement by Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a senior naval official, reported by the Iranian Fars news agency on . This claim comes as the U.S. Has indicated it may provide naval escorts for tankers through the strait “if necessary,” as stated by President Donald Trump.
The Strait of Hormuz is strategically vital, connecting the Persian Gulf with markets in Asia, Europe, and North America. Approximately 80% of the oil and gas traversing the strait is destined for Asian markets. China, a major importer of Iranian energy, is expected to be among the countries most affected by a prolonged closure. Although, analysts have consistently warned that a complete blockade would be self-destructive for Iran, given its reliance on the strait for its own energy exports.
The reduction in traffic, from a typical flow of around 20 million barrels of oil per day, to the current minimal level, highlights the severity of the situation. The impact on global oil prices and supply chains remains to be seen, but the disruption underscores the vulnerability of the world’s energy infrastructure to geopolitical instability in the Middle East.