The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to a five-week low on Sunday, shipping data showed, as renewed US-Iran hostilities and attacks on vessels in the Middle East heightened security concerns.
Six vessels transited the strait on Sunday, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler.
Among those leaving the strait were the Very Large Crude Carrier Humanity, carrying 2 million barrels of Iranian oil, and the tanker Capetan Andreas, transporting about 500,000 barrels of Kuwaiti oil products. Three empty tankers entered the Gulf to load crude, while most vessels switched off their transponders while crossing the strait, the data showed.
No liquefied natural gas tankers were visible entering the strait over the weekend, according to the ship-tracking data.
Kpler data also showed that only one tanker operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. exited the strait between July 10 and July 12. The vessel is bound for Dahej port in India.
US Central Command said its forces carried out another wave of strikes against Iran on Sunday, targeting dozens of sites with precision-guided munitions.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial shipping. Earlier, Iran said it had closed the waterway, claiming a vessel travelling along an unauthorised route had been struck.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Monday that their navy had stopped two ships in the Strait of Hormuz overnight by shutting down their systems. The statement did not identify the vessels.
