How many ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz?

How many ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz?

Ship-tracking data reveals that four vessels associated with Iran navigated the Strait of Hormuz despite the U.S. naval blockade, which began on Monday. However, two of these ships altered their paths, as indicated by location updates from MarineTraffic. The Rich Starry, a US-sanctioned tanker, initially moved east from Sharjah through the strait overnight but later changed course. Similarly, the bulk carrier Christianna, which passed through the waterway after stopping at Bandar Iman Khomeini in Iran, also reversed direction.

Another US-sanctioned tanker, the Elpis, crossed the strait on Tuesday, with MarineTraffic suggesting it may have originated from the Iranian port of Bushehr. The vessel remained stationary on the eastern side of the strait on Tuesday evening. US Central Command stated that six ships complied with orders to turn around, asserting that “no ships from Iranian ports made it past the blockade.”

BBC Verify’s analysis further notes two Iranian-flagged ships departing near Chahbahar port on Tuesday. These vessels, the Ashkan3 and Shabdis, traveled more than 500km (310 miles) beyond Iranian waters. The complexity of tracking locations arises due to potential location signal manipulation or incomplete data submissions, making it difficult to confirm all ship movements accurately.

From the breakdown of ceasefire talks to Trump’s blockade announcement on Sunday, BBC Verify identified 18 vessels transiting the strait. At least 16 of these were linked to Iran, either by flag or port calls. Before the conflict, an average of 138 ships daily crossed the strait, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre. If non-Iranian ships resume passage, experts highlight that fully loaded tankers will likely be prioritized for release.

“You’ve had nearly 800 ships stuck in there for several weeks. Most of them are now loaded with cargo so the priority is going to be to get them out,” said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List.

Tracking data also shows that vessels passing through the strait have shifted to a more northern route, staying close to Iran’s coast and within its territorial waters. Previously, ships took a southern path through the waterway’s central region. Thomas Kazakos of the International Chamber of Shipping added that the presence of sea mines introduces uncertainty, emphasizing the need for clear confirmation of safe navigation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy of Iran outlined permitted routes for ships to avoid potential collisions with sea mines, marking the strait’s center as a “dangerous area.” Meanwhile, US forces deployed two destroyers, the USS Frank E Petersen and USS Michael Murphy, to clear the mines and maintain control over the critical shipping lane.