How many ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz?

How many ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz?

Despite the imposition of a US naval blockade, four vessels tied to Iran have navigated the Strait of Hormuz, as revealed by ship-tracking data. However, two of these ships seem to have altered their course, according to MarineTraffic location records. The US-sanctioned tanker Rich Starry, which had reported its cargo load, initially moved eastward through the strait from Sharjah, UAE, overnight but later reversed direction. Similarly, the bulk carrier Christianna, which transited the waterway on Monday after docking at Bandar Iman Khomeini in Iran, has also changed its path.

Another US-sanctioned tanker, Elpis, passed through the strait on Tuesday, with tracking data hinting at its possible origin from Iran’s Bushehr port. The vessel was stationary on the eastern side of the strait late Tuesday evening, as noted by the tracking service. US Central Command confirmed that six ships adhered to US instructions to turn back, stating that “no Iranian-port vessels managed to bypass the blockade.”

BBC Verify’s analysis further identified two Iranian-flagged ships leaving the vicinity of Chahbahar port, located east of the Strait of Hormuz on Iran’s southern coast. The cargo ship Ashkan3 and container ship Shabdis departed near the port on Tuesday and traveled over 500km (310 miles) beyond Iranian waters. This complicates understanding of the region’s vessel movements, as some may be manipulating their location signals or submitting incomplete data, as noted by tracking experts.

Tracking data also indicates that at least four additional vessels without clear ties to Iran have crossed the strait since the blockade began on Monday. The Strait of Hormuz has become a central battleground in the US-Israel conflict with Iran, following Tehran’s efforts to restrict one of the world’s key shipping routes. President Donald Trump claimed the blockade was a response to Iran’s “knowingly failing” to reopen the strait, warning that the US Navy would “blow to hell” any Iranian attackers and target ships paying transit fees to Iran.

The disruption to global shipping since the conflict started six weeks ago has unsettled economic stability, affecting energy prices and highlighting the critical role of the Gulf-to-Indian Ocean corridor in international trade. Jakob Larsen of the Baltic and International Maritime Council, representing shipowners, warned BBC Verify that “the risk of escalation into direct ship attacks” has increased with the new blockade.

BBC Verify recorded 18 vessels transiting the strait between the end of ceasefire talks and the US blockade’s declaration on Sunday evening. Of these, at least 16 appeared to be connected to Iran, either sailing under its flag or having visited Iranian ports. Before the conflict, an average of 138 ships daily crossed the strait, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre. If unaffiliated vessels resume passage at a higher rate, experts suggest the priority will be to free fully loaded tankers stuck in the area.

Analysis by BBC Verify shows that ships navigating the strait have taken a northerly route near Iran’s coastline, within its territorial waters. Previously, vessels typically followed a more southerly path through the waterway’s center. Thomas Kazakos, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping, pointed to the uncertainty of sea mines as a key concern. “We need to confirm that navigation safety for ships and crews is assured,” he said, adding that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy outlined permitted routes to avoid potential mine collisions.