Traffic through the strait of Hormuz remains minimal, with just two crude and product tankers sailing through today and only one making the transit the day before, compared with a historical average of 138 ships per day.
Daily transits through the strait of Hormuz, in either direction, have not exceeded five ships since the start of the US-Iran war, according to JMIC in a notice shared by UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The transits include Iranian tankers, with one VLCC that probably recently sailed through.
Most of these tankers have been tracking using their Automatic Identification System (AIS) system, although it was disabled for part of the transit. Several more tankers have probably made the transit with their AIS totally dark, but overall journeys through the region remain minimal.
The lack of transits through Hormuz has led at least one charterer, Admic, to charter ships for a floating storage contract, and others may follow as portside storage fills up.
Seven dry bulk carriers sailed through on 10 March — the highest since the war began — with no other day this month exceeding four. More dry bulk carriers than crude or product tankers have transited the strait.
Traffic may be further hampered by the possibility of Iran attempting to mine the strait. This would have a significant impact on shipowners' willingness to attempt the journey.
Three vessels were attacked in the region today as Iranian activity appeared to mount.
UKMTO said it has received 17 incident reports involving vessels in the Mideast Gulf, the strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman since the conflict started. These included 13 attack reports and four reports of suspicious activity.
