WANA (Jul 14) – Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a standstill over the past 24 hours following the escalation of U.S. military attacks and Iran’s retaliatory actions.

 

Data from maritime traffic monitoring company MarineTraffic showed that only two tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the 24 hours ending at 06:25 GMT on Tuesday.

 

The vessels were the oil and chemical tankers Seafaith and Niki.

 

However, the actual number of transits may be higher, as ships can switch off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters to conceal their positions.

 

Meanwhile, the LPG tankers Monarch and Danuta One were approaching the Strait of Hormuz and appeared ready to transit, although they had not yet completed the passage.

 

The limited activity reflects increased caution among shipowners and operators following the renewed escalation of military tensions around the strategic waterway.

 

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council called for de-escalation, stressing that transit through the strait should remain unhindered and free of tolls or charges.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the U.S. military would protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but called for collecting an amount equal to 20% of the total value of cargoes transported through the waterway. He also ordered the U.S. Navy to reimpose the blockade on Iran.

 

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors. In 2024, around 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the waterway, accounting for approximately 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption.