Hormuz commodity vessel traffic falls to seven ships

Tehran, Iran. Seven commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from 17 a day earlier and below the 10-day average of 15, preliminary shipping data showed on Friday.

Vessel movements

Initial data from shiptracker Kpler, recorded at 3.15am GMT, showed that the vessels included two medium-range tankers, one very large gas carrier, one Ultramax vessel, one intermediate tanker and two chemical tankers.

Four vessels were exiting the strait: the two chemical tankers, one medium-range tanker and the intermediate tanker. The very large gas carrier, the Ultramax vessel and the other medium-range tanker were entering.

The figures could change, as some ships typically switch off transponders during the voyage.

Talks on reopening waterway

Iran war mediators have renewed their emphasis on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran agreed to draw up a list of conditions for restoring normal traffic after a Qatari emissary urged Iranian authorities to respect freedom of navigation.

Earlier on Wednesday, a senior Iranian source said Iran and Oman were still working on details of an agreement on the waterway. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had said the two countries agreed on how to share control of the strait and its revenues.

Bab el-Mandeb traffic

Meanwhile, 17 commodity vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb, another major Middle East maritime chokepoint. Six vessels entered the waterway and 11 exited.