Limited Hormuz traffic as US blockade diverts 14 ships
Only 14 vessels moved through or near the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours under a US naval blockade, with at least two under American sanctions. The first loaded crude carrier since the blockade began exited into the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said 14 ships have turned back in the first 72 hours of enforcement.
Shipping traffic around the strategic Strait of Hormuz remained limited over the 24-hour period ending Friday at 0900GMT, with just 14 vessels recorded in available data, according to an Anadolu analysis. The movements included five west-to-east transits and nine east-to-west passages. Among the westbound vessels were Ceci, Shalamar, Basel, MM Madrid, and Shahin Salakh, all listed as in transit. Eastbound traffic included SDR Universe, Janki, Max Star, Kaiser, Fujisei Maru No., Rajtilak, Neshat, Sara, and Pushpak, though some showed anchored or undefined navigation statuses.
First loaded crude carrier exits
The vessel mix spanned multiple classes beyond crude oil flows. Shalamar, a Pakistani-flagged crude tanker carrying condensate, sailed into the Gulf of Oman late Thursday after loading approximately 450,000 barrels of crude in the UAE—becoming the first loaded crude carrier to exit the chokepoint since the US blockade began Monday. Other vessels included Shahin Salakh (chemical/oil products), Max Star (LPG tanker), Rajtilak (bitumen tanker), and several bulk carriers, container ships, and general cargo vessels. Destinations ranged from Karachi, Pakistan, to Sharjah, Umm Qasr in Iraq, and Santos, Brazil.
Sanctioned vessels and mixed cargo status
US Treasury sanctions records show at least two of the 14 vessels—Neshat, a general cargo ship, and Max Star, an LPG tanker—are under American sanctions. Draft readings indicated mixed cargo conditions: Shalamar was 80% loaded, Rajtilak fully laden, while Basel and Max Star were in ballast. The data suggested continued but constrained activity, with in-transit, anchored, and undefined statuses pointing to a complex operational picture rather than straightforward passage.
Advertisement
CENTCOM confirms blockade enforcement
US naval forces have established a blockade line between Gwadar Bay along the Iran-Pakistan border and Oman’s Ras al Hadd. On Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that 14 vessels had turned back within the first 72 hours of the operation. “U.S. forces are focused, vigilant, and highly motivated as they execute a blockade on vessels attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that 14 ships have complied by turning around at the direction of American forces.
Comments you share on our site are a valuable resource for other users. Please be respectful of different opinions and other users. Avoid using rude, aggressive, derogatory, or discriminatory language.