Key facts
- Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to two on Monday from 10 on Sunday.
- A Panama-flagged Supramax and a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier entered the waterway via an unknown route.
- The LR Stephanie crude oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile on Monday, with two crew members sustaining minor injuries.
- The Al Maryah LPG tanker was struck on Sunday while outbound from the strait.
- Both vessels were able to continue their journeys without towing assistance.
- Responsibility for both incidents remains unconfirmed.
Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz decreased 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.
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 26 vessels crossing on Monday.