Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb rose, but volumes remained well below normal levels as risks from attacks, surveillance activity and possible mines continued to weigh on shipping in the region, maritime data showed on Thursday.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported continued incidents involving Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the hailing of merchant vessels, unmanned aerial vehicle overflights and targeted surveillance.
However, UKMTO said there were no confirmed reports of attacks during the 48-hour reporting period ending Thursday.
The maritime security agency said that independent tracking data showed only single-digit numbers of tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz in either direction, while the risk of drifting or of encountering uncharted mines remained a concern, with mine danger areas still active.
The latest data from MarineTraffic show that 14 vessels crossed the Hormuz on Aug. 11, with 11 using an Iranian unilateral transit scheme and none using the traditional traffic separation scheme.
Preliminary data show 78 transits during Aug. 3-9, down from 95 the week prior, according to a Thursday update from Lloyd's List Intelligence.
"Non-Iranian-linked traffic is above levels seen just after the collapse of the MoU, but a far cry from normal volumes," according to Lloyd's List.
The continued weakness in shipping traffic comes as the US military expands its maritime presence in the region.
The US Central Command launched Task Force Falcon Strike on Thursday, described as the first-ever multi-domain, multinational attack-drone unit.
It will deploy one-way attack drones above, on, and below the sea, staffed by the US and regional partners, Centcom said in a statement.
The launch follows Task Force Scorpion Strike, Centcom's first dedicated one-way attack-drone squadron in the Middle East, established nine months earlier.
Scorpion Strike marked the first-ever launch of an aerial attack drone from a US Navy warship last December, while one-way unmanned systems were also used during Operation Epic Fury and in July strikes on Iranian port facilities.
"Task Force Falcon Strike will expand on Scorpion Strike's success given the tremendous innovation happening among our regional allies and partners," said Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom commander.
In the Bab el-Mandeb, ship traffic rose to 40 crossings on Aug. 11, the maritime analytics firm said, including vessels associated with dark, sanctioned and shadow fleets.
The increase comes despite continued warnings over attacks and the risks associated with transiting the southern Red Sea.
The UKMTO said that commercial traffic through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb remained subdued, with no confirmed attacks or disruptions during the reporting period.
Traffic has remained subdued following the July 20 Houthi declaration of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, the agency said.
The security concerns around the Hormuz have been compounded by an oil spill affecting Oman's coastline.
TankerTrackers.com data indicates the spill may be linked to the Aug. 3 Iranian attack on the bulk carrier Minoan Pioneer, off the Omani coast.
The spill subsequently drifted across the Strait of Hormuz toward Iran, the maritime data-tracking platform said.
The incident adds an environmental dimension to the disruption at one of the world's key energy chokepoints, where shipping has already been constrained by security risks and concerns about potential mines.
Separately, Oman is dealing with a salvage operation involving a tanker grounded off the country's coast near the Hallaniyat Islands in Dhofar Governorate.
UK-based maritime risk and response firm Ambrey said Thursday it has been hired to salvage a grounded Russian shadow fleet tanker off Oman's coast and contain an oil spill and prevent further leakage that threatens wildlife.