Despite the continuing military tension in the region, cautious signs have begun to appear in shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, with a gradual increase recorded in the number of ships not linked to Iran crossing the vital sea lane, according to recent maritime data issued by Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
This comes after months of unrest that accompanied the war that has been ongoing since February 28, which prompted Tehran to tighten its control over navigation in the strait, which led to the disruption of a large portion of oil and gas exports and raised the level of global concern about energy security and international trade movement.
According to the company specializing in maritime shipping data, last week witnessed the crossing of ships flying the flags of Singapore, the Emirates, South Korea, and Norway through the strait, an indication that some countries are trying to reactivate transit traffic despite the increasing security risks and political complications.
Data from Kepler, a company specializing in energy movement analysis, also showed that 27 crossings of giant oil tankers not linked to Iran had been recorded since the outbreak of the war, while more than half of these operations were recorded during May alone, which reflects a gradual return of some companies to using the vital strait.
During the period between May 20 and 26, five huge oil tankers left the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, including ships heading to China, South Korea, and India, at a time when reports confirmed that some Asian countries were forced to coordinate directly with the Iranian authorities to ensure safe passage for their ships.
In parallel, Tehran officially approved the establishment of a new authority to manage navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and impose transit fees on ships, in a move that sparked widespread American objection, as the US Treasury Department announced the imposition of sanctions on the new authority, threatening to punish any party that cooperates with it or pays the imposed fees.
This escalation reflects the extent of international competition around one of the most important sea lanes in the world, through which a large portion of global oil exports passes, while markets fear any confrontation that could lead to complete paralysis of transit traffic and a significant rise in global energy prices.
The tension increased when Iranian television announced that Iranian forces opened fire on four ships that attempted to cross the strait “without coordination,” in a direct message confirming Tehran’s commitment to imposing new rules for navigation in the region, in conjunction with arduous and inconclusive negotiations between Washington and Tehran to reach an agreement that reduces the severity of the existing military and political confrontation.
This development comes at a time when major capitals are carefully monitoring the navigation path in the Strait of Hormuz, as it is a vital artery for the global economy, while any field or political step remains capable of igniting a new wave of unrest in oil markets and maritime shipping around the world.
