How many ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz?
How many ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz?
Following the US military blockade of Iran’s ports, the first vessel has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, according to recent ship tracking data. US Central Command declared a blockade of “all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” on Sunday night, but clarified it would not hinder ships moving through the strait to other nations.
Tracking the Movement of Vessels
Monday’s early hours saw four vessels pass through the strait before the blockade took effect at 14:00 GMT (15:00 BST). These included tankers transporting oil, gas, or chemicals, as identified by MarineTraffic. One of the ships, the *Auroura*, is on the US sanctions list for carrying Iranian petroleum products. The *NV Sunshine* is suspected by the US-based group United Against Nuclear Iran of aiding the transport of such goods.
“We need to make sure that we have clear confirmation that the safety of navigation for the ships and the seafarers are being agreed,” said Thomas Kazakos, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping.
The strait has become a key battleground in the US-Israel conflict with Iran, following Tehran’s blockade of a critical shipping lane. President Donald Trump justified the action by citing Iran’s “knowingly failing” to reopen the strait. He also warned that the US Navy would retaliate against any Iranian attacks and target ships paying transit tolls to Iran.
Impact on Global Trade
Since the conflict began six weeks ago, disruptions to maritime traffic have sent ripples through the global economy. Energy prices have fluctuated, and the reliance of international supply chains on this vital waterway has been exposed. Jakob Larsen of the Baltic and International Maritime Council expressed concerns about the “risk of further escalation to involve direct attacks on ships” with the new blockade.
BBC Verify has recorded 23 vessels transiting the strait since the ceasefire talks between Iran and the US collapsed on Saturday morning. At least 16 of these ships are linked to Iranian ports, fly the Iranian flag, or have been sanctioned for ties to the country. Before the conflict, an average of 138 ships passed through the strait daily, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre.
“You’ve had nearly 800 ships stuck in there for several weeks. Most of them are now loaded with cargo so the priority is going to be to get them out,” said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List.
Recent tracking reveals that vessels are now navigating a northern corridor through the strait, closer to Iran’s coastline and within its territorial waters. This contrasts with the more southerly route typically used before the conflict. The IRGC Navy has marked a central region as a “dangerous area” to avoid, citing sea mines. Two US destroyers, the *USS Frank E Petersen* and *USS Michael Murphy*, are tasked with clearing mines laid by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Additional reporting by Joshua Cheetham 13 April: This piece is being updated to reflect the latest number of vessels crossing the strait since the ceasefire. What claims do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
