Hormuz Traffic Slumps to Two Vessels as Tankers Come Under Attack

Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply to just two on Monday, down from 10 a day earlier, according to preliminary shipping data. The count does not include vessels that may have crossed with their Automatic Identification System transponders switched off to avoid detection.

Among the vessels that transited were a Panama-flagged Supramax carrying minerals and a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, both of which entered the waterway via an unknown route, according to tracking data.

Before the Iran conflict began on February 28, the strait routinely handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day, including tankers, gas carriers, bulkers and container ships. The waterway accounts for roughly 20% of the world's daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.

Separately, a crude oil tanker and a liquefied petroleum gas carrier were attacked while crossing the strait in two incidents, according to shipping intelligence and tracking firm Marisks Intelligence.

The Isle of Man-flagged crude oil tanker LR Stephanie was hit by an unidentified projectile while entering the waterway on Monday, causing minor injuries to two crew members. The vessel is managed by Universal Tanker Corp., which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Sunday, the Liberia-flagged LPG tanker Al Maryah was struck while outbound. The vessel is managed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. ADNOC Logistics and Services' media office said it does not comment on specific operational matters, including voyage planning or vessel movements.

Both vessels were able to continue without towing assistance, the report said. Responsibility for the incidents remains unconfirmed, and neither vessel has appeared on publicly reported Iranian Persian Gulf Strait Authority 'non-compliant' lists.

At the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the southern end of the Red Sea, 26 vessels crossed on Monday, unchanged from the previous day.