Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to just seven transits on Thursday, down from 11 the previous day and less than half the average recorded over the past 10 days.
Preliminary vessel-tracking data reviewed by Reuters showed that:
- Two vessels entered the strait.
- Five vessels exited the strait.
The total was significantly below the recent daily average of approximately 15 transits, highlighting the continuing impact of security concerns and regional tensions on maritime activity in one of the world's most important shipping routes.
Data may not capture all movements
The figures may not represent the full picture, however.
Some vessels may have crossed the strait with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off, making them more difficult to track and reducing their visibility to ship-monitoring services.
Such measures are sometimes used by vessels operating in areas of heightened security risk to reduce the chances of being identified or targeted.
Key global shipping route
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors, serving as a vital route for oil, gas and commercial cargo shipments between the Persian Gulf and global markets.
The latest decline in traffic comes amid ongoing tensions in the region and heightened concerns about maritime security.
Source: CNA
