Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic plunges amid Iran conflict and tanker strikes

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed to single-digit daily transits, down from a prewar average of 125, as the military conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran intensifies. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have established an effective blockade, targeting vessels like the Togo-flagged tanker Trend and demanding toll compliance. In response, energy traders are resorting to risky dark ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman to keep global oil and gas supplies moving.

Ship-to-ship transfer operations

• ▪The QatarEnergy-linked vessel Al Rayyan conducted a dark ship-to-ship cargo transfer with the Qatari carrier Al Mashabiyyah off the coast of Oman on September 13, 2026.
• ▪Energy traders increased ship-to-ship cargo transfers of crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas in the Gulf of Oman to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

US-Israel-Iran military conflict

• ▪Saudi Arabian warplanes conducted airstrikes in Yemen after Iran-backed Houthi forces advanced along the Red Sea coast and launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities.
• ▪The United States military has imposed a naval blockade to prevent commercial vessels from entering Iranian ports and has targeted vessels linked to Iran.
• ▪A military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran began in late February 2026, leading to an effective Iranian naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian toll enforcement attempts

• ▪Iran's Gulf Strait Authority issued an updated list of 77 vessels on September 14, 2026, accusing them of violating Iranian protocols and warning of potential fines or detention.
• ▪The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz, located 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, on September 17, 2026.
• ▪Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced on September 18, 2026, that they targeted and detained the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz following an alleged illegal passage.

Global energy supply disruption

• ▪At least two liquefied natural gas shipments transited the Strait of Hormuz during the week of September 14, 2026, as producers sought to supply a market facing shortages and high prices.
• ▪Commodity vessel transits through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to 21 on September 16, 2026, and 23 on September 17, 2026, remaining relatively stable despite Houthi advances in Yemen.
• ▪The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait serve as critical global energy corridors, previously carrying approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Strait of Hormuz traffic decline

• ▪Prior to the outbreak of the Iran conflict on February 28, 2026, approximately 125 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily.
• ▪Four commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on September 17, 2026, down from six the previous day and below the 10-day average of approximately 16.
• ▪Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to four ships on September 15, 2026, compared to seven the previous day and a 10-day average of 18.
• ▪Commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell to three ships on September 16, 2026, down from 12 the previous day and well below the 10-day average of approximately 17.