Hormuz traffic falls sharply, especially through UN-backed Omani route

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined, particularly via the UN-backed Omani route, following renewed strikes between the United States and Iran. This decrease in maritime activity has raised safety concerns for vessels in the region. Reports indicate that only six commodity tankers passed through the strait on Thursday, while 21 vessels transited on Wednesday, according to Kpler data reported by AFP. This decline marks a significant drop from previous levels, as the traffic had reached its highest since the war began after a ceasefire was established. The situation has worsened since the recent attacks on vessels, prompting four oil and gas tankers to reverse their course after these incidents. The only day with lower traffic since the US-Iran truce was signed occurred on June 28, when just 19 ships crossed the strait, following an attack on a tanker off Oman. Andrew Wilson, head of research at BRS shipbrokers, stated in a webinar that they expect only "ebbs and flows" of traffic through Hormuz "almost until the end of the year." Since June 17, over 500 ships have passed through the strait, but many remain stuck, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by maritime traffic in the region. The fragile state of the truce between the US and Iran continues to jeopardize the safety of shipping routes, as military actions and threats persist. Data from the MarineTraffic tracking platform revealed that only four vessels, including one oil tanker and three container ships, crossed the strait recently, marking the lowest level of shipping traffic since the memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17. All four vessels had departed from ports in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.