Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has yet to return to normal, with vessel operators continuing to assess security risks before resuming regular transits through the key Gulf waterway.
According to Reuters, traffic through the Strait remained limited on 4 May, despite US efforts to restore safe passage. MarineTraffic data cited by the news agency showed only a small number of vessels moving into the Gulf of Oman, including one sanctioned handy-sized LPG carrier, several cargo ships and a cable-laying vessel.
The Strait links Gulf ports with the Gulf of Oman and wider international trade routes, making any prolonged restriction a concern for regional port connectivity, vessel schedules and cargo flows.
Several major commercial operators remain cautious. Hapag-Lloyd told Reuters that its vessels could not yet pass through the Strait because procedures for safe transit had not been clearly established.
READ: IMO flags Hormuz disruption to global trade flows
US Central Command has said it has started operations aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the area. However, uncertainty remains over whether those measures are enough to give shipowners, insurers and crews confidence to resume movements.
BIMCO’s Chief Safety and Security Officer, Jakob Larsen, told Reuters: “Without consent from Iran to let commercial ships transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz, it is currently not clear whether the Iranian threat to ships can be degraded or suppressed.”
The latest concerns followed a reported incident involving a bulk carrier on 3 May. Reuters, citing the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, said the vessel was attacked by multiple small craft while sailing north around 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran.
READ: UKMTO flags new restrictions in Strait of Hormuz
UKMTO said the crew were safe and no environmental damage had been reported. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency later said the vessel had not been seized, but had been stopped by the Iranian navy for document checks as part of supervisory procedures.
Reuters has also reported that Iran has instructed commercial vessels to coordinate passage through the Strait with its military. That requirement adds another layer of uncertainty for carriers considering when and how Gulf services can restart safely.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has said hundreds of commercial vessels and up to 20,000 seafarers have been unable to transit the waterway because of the Iran war.
For ports in the Gulf, the impact extends beyond the immediate security picture. Restricted access through the Strait can affect vessel calls, cargo availability, berth planning and the reliability of inbound and outbound supply chains.
Until a clear and widely recognised transit process is in place, commercial operators are likely to remain cautious, leaving the Strait of Hormuz exposed to continued disruption.
