Key facts
- Commodity vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz fell to two on Monday from 10 on Sunday.
- Two vessels, the LR Stephanie crude oil tanker and the Al Maryah LPG tanker, were struck in separate incidents.
- The LR Stephanie was struck by an unidentified projectile on Monday, causing minor injuries to two crew members.
- Responsibility for both vessel incidents remains unconfirmed.
- Three commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, below the 10-day moving average of about 15.
- Saudi Arabia exported 2.9 million barrels of crude daily via Hormuz over the past six days.
Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz declined significantly on Monday, with only two vessels recorded crossing compared to 10 the previous day, according to preliminary shipping data from Kpler. This decline occurred amidst separate incidents where two vessels were struck while navigating the waterway.
On Tuesday, three commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, down from four a day earlier and below the 10-day moving average of about 15, preliminary shipping data showed on Wednesday. The figures may change as some ships typically switch off their transponders during the voyage.
The Panama-flagged Supramax, laden with minerals, and a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier entered the strait via an unspecified route. Prior to the Iran conflict starting on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz typically facilitated the passage of about 125 large commercial vessels daily, representing approximately 20% of the global supply of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
In separate incidents on Monday and Sunday, a crude oil tanker and a liquefied petroleum gas carrier were attacked while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by shipping intelligence firm Marisks Intelligence. The Isle of Man-flagged crude oil tanker LR Stephanie was struck by an unidentified projectile on Monday while entering the waterway, resulting in minor injuries to two crew members. The vessel is managed by Universal Tanker Corp. On Sunday, the Liberia-flagged LPG tanker Al Maryah was struck while outbound. This vessel is managed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
Both affected vessels were able to continue their journeys without requiring towing assistance. Marisks Intelligence noted that responsibility for both incidents remains unconfirmed, and neither vessel was listed on publicly reported Iranian Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) 'non-compliant' lists.
Meanwhile, traffic at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remained unchanged, with 22 vessels crossing on Tuesday, compared with an average of around 26 ships using the strait in the past 10 days. Data showed 14 vessels heading towards the Red Sea and 8 towards the Gulf of Aden.