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Hormuz Traffic Remains Disrupted as Attacks, Mine Threat Constrain Tanker Flows

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Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained disrupted this week as attacks and the threat of mines kept tanker traffic constrained.

The latest Joint Maritime Information Center note released Thursday reported one confirmed attack in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

The strategic waterway remains rated a severe threat area, with the risk of drifting or uncharted mines continuing to pose a danger to vessels operating in and around the traffic separation scheme.

Commercial traffic through the strait remained below-normal levels in the Hormuz, according to the note.

The UKMTO reported one confirmed attack in the Southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb during the reporting period.

"Commercial traffic through the Southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb continues at reduced levels, consistent with the pattern established after the 20 July Houthi declaration of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and earlier confirmed attacks on vessels in the region," according to the JMIC note.

The security situation deteriorated further in the Gulf of Aden, where six armed men reportedly boarded an oil-products tanker, seized control of the vessel and redirected it toward Somalia, the maritime agency said.

Meanwhile, the US has continued enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz against vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports.

The Central Command in a post on X on Thursday said it has redirected 67 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to enforce its blockade against Iran as of Thursday.

The International Maritime Organization's daily Strait of Hormuz incident tracker showed that the total number of confirmed maritime security incidents in the region was 67 as of Thursday.

An incident was reported on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz where a bulk carrier was damaged, and a seafarer was killed, according to the tracker.

The IMO tracker provides a daily log of verified strikes on ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, with the earliest incident recorded on March 1.

The combination of depressed Hormuz traffic, continued attacks in the Red Sea and the latest hijacking in the Gulf of Aden points to a fragmented maritime security environment across the UAE.

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