Strait of Hormuz Sees Near-Halt in Commercial Traffic

Data compiled by Bloomberg shows a near-standstill in commercial ship transits through the critical waterway, with recent transits primarily involving ships linked to Iran and under U.S. sanctions.

Current Transit Status

For six consecutive days, only Iran-linked tankers under U.S. sanctions were observed transiting among large vessels. One Iran-linked supertanker departed the Persian Gulf, while one liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier entered.

On the seventh day, one Iran-linked bulk carrier was recorded departing the Gulf, with no vessels observed entering.

Prior to this period, a brief surge in transits was recorded on a Saturday, followed by a halt after vessels reportedly came under gunfire in the waterway. At least 13 oil tankers turned back toward the Persian Gulf that day.

Recent Sanctioned Vessel Transit

On Friday, the Danuta I, a Palau-flagged gas supertanker identified for handling Iranian LPG and under U.S. sanctions, transited the strait.

• Ship-tracking data indicated the vessel had loaded cargo within the Persian Gulf prior to its transit.
• During its journey, the vessel's automatic identification system (AIS) signal was inconsistent. This suggests potential transponder deactivation, the issuance of inaccurate signals, or possible signal jamming in the region.
• The vessel's owner is identified as Panama-based Ithaki Maritime and Trading, which lacks an apparent online presence or publicly known contact methods.

Context and Statements

• The Bahrain-based Joint Maritime Information Center reported an almost complete halt in Strait traffic in a note issued Friday.
• Charlie Brown, an advisor to the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), stated that the strait currently presents commercial and safety risks for legitimate shipowners, leading to multiple tankers awaiting exit from the Gulf. Brown suggested that sanctioned or "dark fleet" tankers might undertake transits, potentially following communication with Iranian forces, and that other such vessels might be encouraged to transit following the Danuta I's voyage.
• On the previous Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the strait was open, according to the Bloomberg Terminal. Iran subsequently issued a warning against crossings.

The reported incidents and warnings have occurred amid heightened regional tensions. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments.