Strait of Hormuz vessel crossings fall to only three per day as security risks persist

SINGAPORE: Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell further on Tuesday as security concerns continued amid ongoing attacks by the United States and Iran, according to shipping data.

Kpler data showed that only three commodity vessels crossed the strait, down from four a day earlier.

The general cargo ship Kaiser exited the waterway carrying cargo, while the dry bulk carrier H7 Smb8 entered in ballast, indicating it was due to load cargo in the Gulf.

The Hsin Ocean also entered the strait carrying refined palm olein.

No very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers were visibly recorded passing through the strategic waterway on Tuesday.

The decline in traffic came as the US military said it had carried out fresh strikes on Iran, marking the 11th consecutive night of American attacks.

Shipping risks also increased in the Red Sea, where two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to Asia reversed course on Tuesday while approaching the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The move followed threats from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, who have said they would block Saudi oil shipments through the waterway.

The group also warned shipping companies against loading or discharging cargo at Saudi ports, saying vessels could be targeted.

The developments have raised concerns that the US-Iran conflict could disrupt shipping through both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, two of the world’s most important energy transit routes.