HORMUZ TRAFFIC SURGES: 20+ SHIPS DEFY US BLOCKADE AS TENSIONS SPIKE
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–MARITIME data shows vessel movement climbing through Strait of Hormuz even after Trump’s “zero ships” order, with CENTCOM saying non-Iran traffic stays clear.
Key Issues:
– *Traffic Rebounds Despite Blockade*: _”Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for oil and gas exports, has shown signs of increased vessel movement in recent days despite ongoing military tensions and a US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports.”_
– Commercial Vessels Keep Transiting: _”Maritime tracking data and reporting indicate that a growing number of commercial vessels have continued to transit the narrow waterway, which had seen dramatic declines in activity earlier in the conflict.”_
– 20+ Ships in 24 Hours: _”On April 16, data compiled by monitoring firm Marine Insight shows that more than 20 vessels transited the strait within a 24-hour period amid the blockade, even as some ships were ordered to turn back or reroute.”_
– “Zero Ships” Order from Trump: _”The United States announced a naval blockade and has allowed ‘zero ships’ in and out of Iranian ports starting 6pm on Monday (April 13, 2026, 6pm Gulf time).”_ _”The blockade was ordered by US President Donald Trump after talks with Iran in Pakistan failed to make progress and Iran kept the threat of Hormuz closure as part of the leverage.”_
– Global Expansion of Blockade: _”On Thursday (April 16), Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine announced the blockade’s ‘expansion’ to pursue and intercept Iran-linked vessels globally, including ‘dark fleet’ tankers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, regardless of nationality.”_
– Context: Stalled Talks & Oil Prices: _”The move follows the stalled ceasefire talks, with Trump claiming Iran agreed to hand over enriched uranium — amid rising US oil prices.”_
– Non-Iran Traffic Exempt: _”The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), however, clarified that vessels sailing to and from non-Iranian destinations remain free to pass through the strategic waterway.”_
– Iran-Linked Transits Logged: _”Reuters tracking data noted that at least eight merchant vessels — including three tankers linked to Iran — made transit attempts in the days following the US blockade announcement.”_
Independent counts reported that 279 vessels have passed through the strait since hostilities began in late February, though the total includes a period of heavily-reduced traffic due to security risks.
Most of the recent crossings appear to involve ships bound for or departing from non-Iranian ports, consistent with US Central Command statements that the blockade does not bar vessels not tied to Iranian trade.
Some maritime analysts have also noted shifts in vessel routing, with ships using designated corridors along the Iranian and Omani coasts amid security concerns and alternative transit advisories.
The Wall Street Journal, citing two US officials, reported over 20 ships crossed the strait in the past 24 hours, with some halted.
Kpler data confirmed at least three vessels transited post-blockade, including Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Christianna — which discharged cargo at Iran’s Bandar Imam Khomeini and passed near Larak Island shortly after restrictions.
Despite the uptick, overall traffic remains far below peacetime levels.
Pre-war, roughly 100 or more commercial ships a day moved through Hormuz Strait before the escalation of conflict.
Continued transit, however, reflects resilient commercial efforts to maintain critical supply chains even as geopolitical tensions persist in the region.
“The Strait of Hormuz has never been Iran’s to close or restrict,” he said. “Any attempt to do so is not a regional issue; it is the disruption of a global economic lifeline and a direct threat to the energy, food and health security of every nation.”
He described the situation as illegal and dangerous, warning that setting such a precedent would carry global consequences.
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“The world simply cannot afford it and must not allow it.”
The figures shared reflect a system under strain, with shipping flows slowing and vessels unable to clear the corridor at normal pace.
Days earlier, in a detailed LinkedIn post published on Thursday, Al Jaber had already warned that access through the Strait was being restricted in ways that go beyond conventional disruption.
“This moment requires clarity. So let’s be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open,” he said.
“Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled.”
He argued that such conditions effectively shift the nature of the passage from open transit to controlled access, raising concerns over the integrity of global shipping routes.
“Conditional passage is not passage. It is control by another name.”
The Thursday remarks also highlighted a growing disconnect between market expectations and physical supply.
Cargoes that moved before the escalation are now arriving at their destinations, while new shipments remain delayed, creating a visible gap in energy flows.
“This is where the paper traded markets are meeting physical reality, and the 40-day gap in global energy flows is truly exposed,” he said.
An estimated 230 vessels remain loaded with oil and ready to sail, waiting for safe passage through the Strait.
Pressure building on global supply chains
With about 20% of global energy flows passing through the Strait, any sustained restriction feeds directly into supply tightness and price pressure.
“Every day the Strait remains restricted, the consequences compound. Supply is delayed, markets tighten, prices rise,” he said.
The impact extends beyond energy markets, with potential knock-on effects across food systems, manufacturing and household costs worldwide.
Asia remains particularly exposed, with roughly 80% of shipments from the Strait bound for the region.
“The immediate priority is clear: close that gap. Restore the more than 20% of globally traded energy that flows through this corridor,” he said.
He added that energy producers, including ADNOC, are preparing to restore production and shipments within operational constraints, while prioritising safety.
He said: “Energy security and global economic stability depend on it.”
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