Only four vessels transit Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours amid US-Iran escalation

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained limited on Tuesday, with only four vessels moving in both directions through the key energy passage amid the latest escalation between Iran and the US around Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Anadolu. The latest data showed two vessels moving east to west and two west to east near the strait in the last 24 hours as of 0900GMT Tuesday.

Vessel details

The east-to-west traffic included the container ship Muara, heading to Jebel Ali in the UAE, and the Aurora (listed as Shimokita Maru), a limestone carrier heading to Umm Qasr in Iraq. In the opposite direction, west-to-east traffic included Nooh Gas (listed as Luma), a US-sanctioned LPG tanker heading to Khor Fakkan in the UAE, and Pasargad 11, a general cargo ship heading to Port Rashid in the UAE.

US military escorts

The latest movements came as military activity intensified under Washington's "Project Freedom" initiative to guide stranded vessels through the contested passage. Danish shipping giant Maersk said one of its US-flagged vessels exited the Persian Gulf under US military protection on May 4 "without incident." Two US Navy destroyers, the USS Truxtun and USS Mason, transited the strait after fending off Iranian missiles, drones and small boats.

Conflicting accounts

Iranian media reported that five civilians were killed when US forces targeted two small cargo boats in the strait, disputing Washington's account that it had targeted Iranian boats threatening commercial shipping. The competing accounts underscored growing security risks in and around Hormuz.

Ceasefire context

A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks failed to produce a lasting agreement. The truce was later extended by President Trump indefinitely. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strait.