The number of commodity vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply to just three ships on Wednesday (September 16), down from 12 a day earlier and well below the 10-day average of about 17, preliminary ship-tracking data showed on Thursday.
The figures, based on Kpler shipping data, exclude vessels that may have passed through the waterway with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off to avoid detection.
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Drops As Gulf War Intensifies
Of the three vessels recorded, an empty Supramax dry bulk ship entered the strait through the Iranian route, while an empty petroleum product tanker entered via a dark route, according to the data available at 0445 GMT.
A Panamax tanker was also recorded exiting the waterway through a dark route.
Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined this week as the war in the Gulf intensified. Saudi Arabian warplanes pounded Yemen, while Houthi fighters launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities.
The Iran-backed Houthis’ rapid advance in Yemen along the Red Sea coast, their attacks on Saudi Arabia and damage to Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline have widened Tehran’s reach in the conflict and raised risks to global oil supplies.
Meanwhile, traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea also eased on Wednesday. A total of 21 vessels crossed the waterway, compared with 24 vessels a day earlier.