Ship transits through Strait of Hormuz plunge as Gulf tensions persist

Tracked vessel crossings of the Strait of Hormuz have fallen sharply this week as tensions between the United States and Iran remain unresolved.

• Shipping data showed 17 tracked commodity ships crossed the strait early this week, down from 37 the previous week.
• Middle Eastern producers continue exporting oil on tankers sailing with transponders switched off, limiting visibility of the traffic.
• The LNG carrier Shandong Redwood, loaded at Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal, crossed the strait on September 19 bound for Pakistan.
• Before the war against Iran began on February 28, about 125 large commercial ships passed through the strait daily.