BBC: Just under 100 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz

March 23 ------ Data analyzed by BBC Verify shows that just under 100 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of March.

This represents a dramatic decline of roughly 95% in daily traffic compared with pre-conflict levels, when around 138 vessels transited the strait, each day carrying about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre. Shipping data from Kpler indicates an average of only five to six ships per day so far this month, BBC reports.

Ships with Iranian connections

The analysis shows that about a third of recent crossings involve ships with connections to Iran. These include 14 vessels sailing under the Iranian flag and others linked to sanctions or suspected involvement in Tehran’s oil trade. Additional ships were owned by companies based in countries like China, and some vessels were headed for destinations such as India. According to BBC, some non-Iran-linked ships have still docked at Iranian ports, including vessels owned by Greek companies.

Route changes and possible coordination

There are signs that ships are changing their routes to reduce risk. Some vessels are sailing closer to Iran’s coastline instead of using the usual central shipping lane through the strait. Experts told BBC this could be due to threats such as mines or possible coordination with Iranian authorities. By doing this, ships may be entering Iranian territorial waters and following rules or safe lanes set by Iran, which gives the country more control over navigation through the strait.

Attacks on commercial vessels

The security situation remains dangerous. Since the conflict began, 20 commercial vessels have been attacked, not all directly in the strait. On 11 March, the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by two projectiles, leaving three crew members missing. The same day, the Greek-owned Star Gwyneth and US-owned MT Safesea Vishnu were also attacked. One person was killed and crew members were forced to abandon ship, showing how commercial shipping is increasingly caught in the conflict.

Multiple maritime threats and geographic risks

Experts warn that multiple threats including drones, missiles, fast attack boats, and possible naval mines make the situation especially complex. The geography of the strait, which is narrow, shallow, and bordered by mountainous coastline, gives Iran additional tactical advantages. This allows for elevated attacks and reduces ships’ reaction time, making navigation more hazardous.

Ships avoiding detection through tracking shutdowns

Many ships are attempting to avoid detection by turning off their Automatic Identification System tracking devices. This causes them to disappear from monitoring systems as they pass through the Gulf of Oman and reappear later elsewhere.

While this can help ships avoid targeting, it also makes tracking movements more difficult for analysts, who rely on manual verification and satellite imagery to monitor traffic in this critical and increasingly volatile shipping route, BBC notes.

Source: safety4sea.com