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Hormuz Traffic Remains Subdued as US Blockade, Risks Weigh on Shipping

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Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained subdued on Aug. 2, while shipping activity via the Bab el-Mandeb also eased, as heightened security risks and military activity continued to disrupt traffic across two of the world's key energy chokepoints.

The latest data from MarineTraffic for Aug. 2 showed just nine crossings through the Strait of Hormuz, compared with 23 on July 31 and 11 on Aug. 1.

"Strait of Hormuz crossings totalled 43 from 31 July to 2 August, with 23 crossings on 31 July, 11 on 1 August and 9 on 2 August," MarineTraffic said.

Five vessels exited the Middle East Gulf while four entered on Sunday. Seven ships used the Iranian Unilateral Scheme, two followed undetermined routes, and none used the International Maritime Organization's traffic separation scheme.

The marine data analysis platform said the daily total included two vessels under sanctions and two ships linked to the shadow fleet.

Daily traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb also declined, with 30 crossings recorded on Aug. 2 versus 41 on July 31 and 37 on Aug. 1.

Marine Traffic said that 20 vessels exited the Red Sea while 10 entered. One vessel conducted a dark transit with its Automatic Identification System switched off, while two sanctioned vessels and three shadow fleet ships were identified.

Meanwhile, subdued traffic comes as US military continues to enforce a blockade targeting Iranian shipping.

The US Central Command said that, as of Aug. 3, it had redirected 44 commercial vessels, disabled two vessels and boarded another two as part of blockade enforcement operations.

The Joint Maritime Information Center said traffic via the Hormuz remained at reduced levels, with independent tracking data showing only single-digit tanker movements in both directions.

The maritime security agency said that shipping companies continue to delay or reschedule voyages following earlier attacks in the region, while a significant number of vessels have been transiting with AIS signals switched off, reducing visibility for commercial tracking systems.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continued to disrupt vessels through radio hailing, unmanned aerial vehicle overflights and surveillance operations, while warning that drifting or uncharted mines remained a threat near the traffic separation scheme.

Shipping in the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb continued despite elevated security concerns following a previously confirmed Houthi attack on a Saudi-flagged tanker.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations said the Houthis have reiterated warnings that the Bab el-Mandeb is closed to Saudi-affiliated vessels. However, the Houthi-controlled Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said passage remains free for non-Saudi and non-coalition ships, the maritime security agency said.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said it is considering setting up a 43-nation maritime coalition to protect freedom of navigation, energy infrastructure and commercial shipping across the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden through joint patrols, intelligence sharing and enhanced maritime surveillance.

The UKMTO said that open-source tracking continued to show daily Bab el-Mandeb transits ranging between 20 and 40 vessels, though volumes fluctuate from day to day.

Coalition naval forces remain deployed across the area, the UKMTO said.

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