Ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted, with only 4 vessels departing and 10 entering over the weekend, raising security alarms.
Traffic of ships in the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined.
In the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical transit points for global energy trade, commercial ship traffic remained significantly below the recent average over the weekend. According to ship tracking data reported by Reuters, the number of vessels passing through the strait on Saturday and Sunday decreased noticeably, while reports of a ship being struck by unknown munitions in the region further heightened security concerns.
The sharp decline in commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz continues. According to data published by Reuters on September 14, only 4 ships exited the strait while 10 ships entered over the weekend. These figures are significantly below the daily average of approximately 14 ships over the past 10 days.
The data includes ships that have their AIS devices turned on in ship tracking systems. It is noted that the actual number of crossings may be higher due to the presence of ships that have turned off their tracking transponders for security reasons.
Among the vessels passing through the strait are commercial ships carrying crude oil, LPG, fertilizers, metals, and bulk cargo.
Before the war, 125 large ships passed daily.
The current level of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz highlights the scale of the situation compared to the intensity before the conflicts.
According to Reuters, prior to the war, approximately 125 large commercial ships passed through the strait daily. Hormuz is a strategic maritime passage through which about 20% of global crude oil and LNG supply is transported.
The decline in traffic is not limited to the past few days. On September 11, the number of ships passing through the strait was recorded as only 7, falling below half of the 10-day average of 15 ships at that time.
A ship passing through the strait was hit.
Another development that has increased security concerns in the region is the report of a ship being struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel was hit by munitions of unknown origin during its passage through the strait. Initial information regarding the crew's condition and the environmental impact of the incident has not been shared.
In recent days, the intensification of attacks on commercial vessels in the region has led many shipowners to postpone their transits through Hormuz or to keep their ships waiting in the area.
On September 9, mutual attacks involving tankers occurred between Iran and the United States, further increasing the risk of maritime transportation around Hormuz. According to Reuters, the flow of oil in the region has significantly decreased compared to pre-war levels.
Ships are turning off their AIS devices.
With the rise in security risks, it has been reported that some tankers are turning off their AIS systems during their transits through Hormuz.
This practice is referred to in the industry as 'dark crossing.' Ships are trying to reduce the risk of attack by making it more difficult to track their locations.
According to an analysis based on industry data from Reuters, while part of the shipments continues through these methods, the oil exports of Gulf countries are still below pre-war levels.
Alternative oil routes have also been sidelined.
The increasing pressure on Hormuz has heightened the importance of alternative energy routes in the region. However, the temporary closure of the East-West pipeline, which transports oil from Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast to Yanbu Port in the Red Sea following a drone attack, has further narrowed the options.
Under normal conditions, the pipeline allows for the transportation of approximately 4 million barrels per day without using the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that the closure of the pipeline could put about 4% of global oil supply at risk.
Tanker freight rates are also at record levels.
The decrease in ship traffic has directly reflected on the tanker market.
Shipowners are being more cautious in sending vessels to the region, reducing the available tanker supply, while war risk insurances and freight rates have risen rapidly. In recent days, tanker freight rates have reached record levels, and difficulties in the supply of ship fuel are also increasing transportation costs.
Brent crude oil prices have also risen again after the recent attacks in the region, hovering above $100.
Traffic in Bab el-Mandeb remains more stable for now.
In contrast to the dramatic decline in the Strait of Hormuz, traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance of the Red Sea remained more stable over the weekend.
According to Reuters data, 24 ships passed through Bab el-Mandeb on Saturday and 27 on Sunday. These figures are reported to be close to the 10-day average.
However, it is noted that the risks in Bab el-Mandeb are growing due to the spread of conflicts in Yemen towards the strait and the advance of the Houthis in the region. Thus, global energy and maritime trade are facing security issues in two critical chokepoints, both Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, simultaneously.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
