Hormuz traffic falls to three ships as Gulf conflict escalates

Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply on Wednesday, with just three ships transiting the strategic waterway, preliminary ship-tracking data showed on Thursday, September 17.

The figure was down from 12 vessels on Tuesday, September 15, and well below the 10-day average of about 17. The data excludes vessels that may have transited the strait with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off to avoid detection, according to Reuters data.

Of the three vessels recorded, an empty Supramax dry bulk carrier entered the strait via the Iranian route, while an empty petroleum product tanker entered through a dark route, according to Kpler shipping data recorded at 0445 GMT.

A Panamax tanker exited the waterway using a dark route, the data showed.

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined this week as the war in the Gulf has intensified. Saudi Arabian warplanes have pounded Yemen, while Houthi fighters have launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities.

The Iran-backed Houthis’ rapid advance in Yemen along the Red Sea coast, attacks on Saudi Arabia and damage to the kingdom’s East-West oil pipeline have expanded Tehran’s reach in the conflict and heightened risks to global oil supplies.

Traffic has also eased through the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait. A total of 21 vessels crossed the waterway on Wednesday, compared with 24 the day earlier.

By Tamilla Hasanova