Strait of Hormuz Traffic Drops to Five Ships Daily
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed to a fraction of normal levels following the seizure of two container ships by Iranian forces. Maritime analysts warn that the waterway remains unsafe for transit despite an uneasy ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to historic lows, with only five vessels recorded passing through the strategic waterway in the last 24 hours. This sharp decline follows the seizure of two container ships by Iran earlier this week and an ongoing blockade of Iranian ports by the United States. The current traffic represents a massive collapse from the pre-war average of 140 daily transits recorded before hostilities began on February 28.
Industry experts suggest that the maritime sector is waiting for a formal cessation of hostilities before resuming normal operations. Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at the shipping association BIMCO, noted that companies require a stable ceasefire and safety assurances from all conflicting parties to resume transits. Currently, vessels are forced to use restricted routes near the coasts of Oman and the Iranian mainland.
