Strait of Hormuz Traffic Falls Below 20 Ships Over Weekend Amid US-Iranian Blockades

Fewer than 20 commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, according to shipping data released on Monday, as Iranian and U.S. blockades continued to restrict traffic through the key route for energy shipments.

Kpler data showed that four vessels crossed the strait on Sunday, while 13 crossed on Saturday. The figures may change because some ships turned off their transponders while passing through the waterway.

On Friday, 16 vessels crossed the strait. Two empty very large crude carriers (VLCCs) entered the Gulf with their tracking systems switched off. One was heading to Iraq and the other to Bahrain.

A VLCC carrying 2 million barrels of Emirati crude left the strait on Thursday.

Eight very large gas carriers also passed through the strait over the three days. Six entered the Gulf empty, while two left carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) loaded in Iran.

Hormuz traffic remains well below normal

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low in the week to Aug. 21, with some vessels cancelling planned crossings or changing course through the northern part of the strait after attacks, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.

According to UKMTO’s report, 89 vessels exited the strait and 103 entered during the seven-day period. The figures were based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.

“Traffic remains well below normal levels,” UKMTO said, adding that AIS-detected transits were about 90% below pre-conflict levels and had fallen since the peak recorded between June 24 and June 26.

Tankers made up 45% of the vessel traffic recorded through the strait. Of these, 56% were tankers carrying crude oil, oil products or chemicals. LPG carriers accounted for another 24%.

UKMTO has reported 23 incidents involving projectile strikes on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz since July 6. The incidents caused damage to bridges, engine rooms and other parts of vessels.

Bab el-Mandeb traffic also declines

Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also fell on Sunday.

Kpler data showed that 24 commodity vessels passed through the strait on Sunday, compared with 32 on Saturday and 22 on Friday.

Two VLCCs entered the Red Sea on Saturday. One was carrying Iraqi Basrah crude and the other was empty.

The latest Hormuz figures could still change because some vessels were not transmitting their positions during transit.

However, UKMTO’s weekly data shows that AIS-recorded traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained about 90% below pre-conflict levels through Aug. 21.

References: Reuters, Telegraph India