Full Breakdown
Only Five Vessels Crossed the Strait of Hormuz in 24 Hours, Signaling Severe Disruption
4/25/2026, 12:38:43 AM
Record Low Transit
On 24 April 2026, only five vessels—including the Iranian-flagged oil products tanker Niki—passed the Strait of Hormuz, a stark drop from the pre-war average of 140 daily passages.
Background & Context
The reduction follows the Feb 28 2026 war that began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. An uneasy cease-fire persists, but Iran’s seizure of two container ships and the U.S. naval blockade keep the waterway effectively closed.
Key Actors
BIMCO’s safety chief Jakob Larsen, Xeneta analyst Peter Sand, the Iranian-flagged tanker Niki, the Comoros-flagged supertanker Helga that docked in Basra, and German carrier Hapag-Lloyd are the principal entities mentioned.
Data Snapshot
Five ships transited on 24 April; seven crossed between 22-23 April, six linked to Iran. The strait moves roughly 20 % of global oil; its closure has cut about one-fifth of world oil and LNG supplies. Some 20,000 seafarers remain stranded.
Implications
The bottleneck threatens a global energy crisis, raising freight costs and price volatility while forcing Gulf exporters onto longer, riskier routes that cannot match the strait’s capacity.
Official Responses
BIMCO urged a stable cease-fire and safety assurances for navigation. The United States maintains its naval blockade, warning vessels that approach the designated line. Hapag-Lloyd confirmed a crossing but gave no details.
Industry Concerns
Analysts say even an ‘open’ strait is unsafe after Iran’s fast-boat seizures, warning that current risks endanger crews, cargo and insurance premiums.
On-the-Ground & Gaps
The Helga arrived at Basra’s offshore terminal, the second vessel to reach Iraq since the closure. Niki’s destination remains unknown, and Hapag-Lloyd’s crossing lacks timing, leaving key details unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “For most shipping companies, they will need a stable ceasefire and assurances from both sides of the conflict that the Strait of Hormuz is safe to transit,” — Jakob Larsen, BIMCO
- “In the meantime, shipping will be restricted to using routes close to Iran and Oman. Due to their confined nature, these routes cannot safely accommodate the normal volumes of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” — Jakob Larsen, BIMCO
- “The latest seizures make clear, even an ‘open’ Strait of Hormuz is not a safe Strait of Hormuz for seafarers, ships and cargo,” — Peter Sand, Xeneta
- “The closure of the strait has disrupted a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies and triggered a global energy crisis.” — Reuters, News Agency
Outlook
Negotiations in Islamabad are scheduled, offering a possible diplomatic path to lift the blockade. Until a verifiable cease-fire is achieved, shippers are likely to keep rerouting, sustaining the traffic shortfall.
