Only five vessels, including an Iranian oil products tanker, have transited the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours, according to shipping data, highlighting the sharp decline in maritime activity following recent security incidents and ongoing restrictions.
The reduced movement comes after Iran seized two container ships earlier in the week, alongside a continuing blockade by the United States targeting Iranian ports, further straining navigation through the critical waterway.
Traffic through the strait, which serves as a key gateway into the Gulf, has dropped significantly from the average of about 140 daily crossings recorded prior to the escalation of the Iran conflict on February 28, despite a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
“For most shipping companies, they will need a stable ceasefire and assurances from both sides of the conflict that the Strait of Hormuz is safe to transit,” said Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at shipping association BIMCO.
“In the meantime, shipping will be restricted to using routes close to Iran and Oman,” he added. “Due to their confined nature, these routes cannot safely accommodate the normal volumes of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Among the few ships recorded was the sanctioned Iranian-flagged tanker Niki, which departed the strait without a listed destination, based on tracking data from Kpler and MarineTraffic. Its intended route remains uncertain, particularly if it sails toward areas under US naval enforcement.
Nearly two months after military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, there has been little indication of renewed diplomatic engagement.
Shipping company Hapag-Lloyd confirmed that one of its vessels successfully crossed the strait, though it did not disclose specific timing or conditions.
In a related development, the Comoros-flagged supertanker Helga reached an offshore oil terminal in Iraq’s southern Basra port, becoming only the second vessel to arrive since the disruption of traffic through the strait.
Iran’s recent seizure of two container ships using fast-moving boats near the waterway has heightened fears among global shipping operators and energy firms.
“The latest seizures make clear, even an ‘open’ Strait of Hormuz is not a safe Strait of Hormuz for seafarers, ships and cargo,” said Peter Sand of freight intelligence platform Xeneta.
Analysis from Lloyd’s List Intelligence showed that between April 22 and early April 23, just seven vessels passed through the strait, with most linked to Iran-related trade.
The disruption has affected roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, intensifying an ongoing energy crisis.
Hundreds of ships and about 20,000 seafarers remain stranded within the Gulf, as insurers and oil companies monitor the situation for any improvement that could allow safer transit.
