Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged sharply after renewed conflicts between Iran and the United States, with merchant vessels exiting the Persian Gulf via the waterway largely halting, according to a Windward report released Thursday.
The London-based maritime risk intelligence firm said only five transits occurred overnight from July 8 to 9, a sharp decline from the 51 transits on July 7 and 35 transits on July 8.
The report noted that among the 35 transits recorded on July 8, 18 vessels are outbound, with the southern corridor carrying only two of the 18 outbound ships.
This reflects sustained operator avoidance of the Omani-side lane following the overnight missile strikes.
After the U.S. and Iran reached a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU), there were mainly two shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, the northern corridor under Iranian control and the southern corridor hugging the Omani coast.
The U.S. military forces in the Middle East provide navigation support along the southern corridor.
Hormuz traffic plunges sharply amid renewed Iran, U.S. strikes: Windward
