Shipping through Strait of Hormuz slows sharply

Only one US-licensed VLCC departing the Arabian Gulf was observed transiting the strait, alongside an Iranian-flagged container ship.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a near standstill on Thursday, after the United States carried out airstrikes on Iran for a second consecutive day.

Vessel-tracking data cited by Bloomberg showed that most visible ship movements in the strait were concentrated along an Iran-designated shipping lane near the northern side of the waterway, while the US-backed Omani navigation channel appeared largely inactive.

Among large tankers, only one US-licensed very large crude carrier (VLCC) departing the Arabian Gulf was observed transiting the strait, alongside an Iranian-flagged container ship.

However, some vessels may still be transiting the strait with their transponders switched off.

The slowdown follows Wednesday's passage of just 14 tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in both directions, the lowest daily total since Washington and Tehran reached a temporary peace agreement in mid-June, marking a sharp departure from the strait's normal level of daily shipping activity.