The Hormuz Desk

Evidence through

The Strait

Movement is not the same thing as normality

Published traffic, disruption records, Gulf port context, and the editorial operating history—each with its own clock.

Edition published

PortWatch disruption record

Trade Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz

RED

Trade Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz from: 01 Mar 2026 to: - .

Active since
Coverage
Strait polygon
Latest traffic
1 crossings

Source: IMF PortWatch · snapshot fetched

Transit data

Ninety published days

AIS-derived crossings are rendered at build time. No public data endpoint is required to read this page.

IMF PortWatch

Published Strait crossings

Data through

Latest day
1

Seven-day average
3.1

Published crossings

90-day peak
51

Publication lag
3 days

At snapshot fetch

Daily AIS-derived Strait of Hormuz crossing counts Ninety published days ending Sep 20, 2026. Bars show daily crossings and the gold line shows a rolling seven-day average. Exact values follow in a table.
AIS-derived counts are useful context, not proof of unrestricted passage. The upstream series may lag and revise. Snapshot fetched .
Read the daily values
Latest 90 published PortWatch days, newest first
DateAll crossingsTankersOther cargo
1 0 1
6 1 5
7 2 5
3 0 3
1 0 1
2 1 1
2 0 2
8 1 7
2 1 1
8 3 5
5 1 4
3 0 3
6 2 4
5 2 3
6 2 4
2 0 2
2 0 2
2 1 1
3 1 2
4 1 3
3 1 2
6 2 4
3 1 2
7 0 7
2 2 0
5 2 3
4 4 0
3 2 1
3 1 2
7 1 6
4 2 2
5 2 3
6 4 2
6 4 2
4 3 1
1 1 0
1 1 0
7 2 5
6 2 4
3 1 2
9 2 7
4 2 2
3 0 3
10 2 8
6 4 2
2 0 2
5 0 5
7 4 3
6 3 3
3 0 3
5 3 2
8 2 6
4 1 3
7 3 4
5 1 4
5 0 5
3 2 1
2 0 2
3 0 3
0 0 0
6 1 5
6 1 5
5 2 3
4 2 2
6 2 4
1 1 0
6 1 5
9 3 6
8 5 3
10 2 8
4 1 3
6 3 3
7 4 3
10 3 7
20 8 12
26 10 16
25 16 9
22 16 6
17 8 9
24 17 7
28 15 13
29 18 11
16 6 10
26 13 13
16 7 9
25 9 16
30 17 13
46 21 25
51 20 31
29 12 17

Port activity

Six ports under watch

Activity appears only when the PortWatch daily series exists. Structural metadata remains labelled as structural metadata.

FujairahUnited Arab Emirates

Fujairah

Outside the Strait on the Gulf of Oman side, Fujairah is the cleanest watchpoint for whether tankers are still staging, bunkering, and loading around Hormuz-adjacent flows.

Annual average / day
9.5
Dominant mix
Tanker
Latest calls
10
Seven-day average
5.1
Ninety-day daily calls for Fujairah Daily PortWatch calls through Jul 10, 2026. Exact values are in the consolidated table below.
Through . Daily calls, not queue length.
Jebel AliUnited Arab Emirates

Jebel Ali

The region's largest container hub gives a useful read on whether broader commercial shipping patterns are normalizing or still constrained.

Annual average / day
21.2
Dominant mix
Container
Latest calls
8
Seven-day average
7.1
Ninety-day daily calls for Jebel Ali Daily PortWatch calls through Jul 10, 2026. Exact values are in the consolidated table below.
Through . Daily calls, not queue length.
Khalifa PortUnited Arab Emirates

Khalifa Port

A major UAE container and industrial gateway that helps show whether non-energy trade remains suppressed or resilient.

Annual average / day
6.3
Dominant mix
Container
Latest calls
0
Seven-day average
0.4
Ninety-day daily calls for Khalifa Port Daily PortWatch calls through Jul 10, 2026. Exact values are in the consolidated table below.
Through . Daily calls, not queue length.
Port of SoharOman

Port of Sohar

An Omani Gulf of Oman port that helps distinguish Strait-specific disruption from wider regional shipping weakness.

Annual average / day
5.4
Dominant mix
Tanker
Latest calls
4
Seven-day average
5.0
Ninety-day daily calls for Port of Sohar Daily PortWatch calls through Jul 10, 2026. Exact values are in the consolidated table below.
Through . Daily calls, not queue length.
Ras LaffanQatar

Ras Laffan

Qatar's LNG-heavy export node is a useful proxy for whether energy-linked shipping is flowing despite Hormuz disruption.

Annual average / day
4.9
Dominant mix
Tanker
Latest calls
3
Seven-day average
2.4
Ninety-day daily calls for Ras Laffan Daily PortWatch calls through Jul 10, 2026. Exact values are in the consolidated table below.
Through . Daily calls, not queue length.
Ras TanuraSaudi Arabia

Ras Tanura

One of the Gulf's most important oil terminals, useful for tracking whether tanker activity inside the Gulf is still highly selective.

Annual average / day
1.8
Dominant mix
Tanker
Latest calls
1
Seven-day average
1.0
Ninety-day daily calls for Ras Tanura Daily PortWatch calls through Jul 10, 2026. Exact values are in the consolidated table below.
Through . Daily calls, not queue length.
Read all six-port daily values
PortWatch daily calls for the six ports under watch, grouped by port
PortDateAll callsTankersContainersOther cargo
Fujairah10802
Fujairah3112
Fujairah7502
Fujairah3201
Fujairah6412
Fujairah5312
Fujairah2200
Fujairah7512
Fujairah8602
Fujairah5104
Fujairah9415
Fujairah4400
Fujairah4400
Fujairah3013
Fujairah6214
Fujairah8523
Fujairah15906
Fujairah2022
Fujairah1011
Fujairah0000
Fujairah2111
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah1011
Fujairah191118
Fujairah3102
Fujairah5401
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah1001
Fujairah0000
Fujairah5312
Fujairah2101
Fujairah7215
Fujairah0000
Fujairah1100
Fujairah2200
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah1011
Fujairah1100
Fujairah15817
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah8226
Fujairah13617
Fujairah1001
Fujairah0000
Fujairah2022
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah8216
Fujairah1100
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah1001
Fujairah144210
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah0000
Fujairah3003
Fujairah1011
Fujairah3211
Fujairah2101
Fujairah3300
Fujairah9415
Fujairah5114
Fujairah6313
Fujairah8602
Fujairah5411
Fujairah3211
Fujairah6214
Fujairah3112
Fujairah8513
Fujairah1001
Fujairah7413
Fujairah3102
Fujairah2111
Fujairah3300
Fujairah7215
Fujairah6313
Fujairah8414
Fujairah5401
Fujairah2002
Jebel Ali8246
Jebel Ali7037
Jebel Ali7245
Jebel Ali5124
Jebel Ali10149
Jebel Ali3013
Jebel Ali10525
Jebel Ali6115
Jebel Ali7126
Jebel Ali10436
Jebel Ali4034
Jebel Ali2012
Jebel Ali3013
Jebel Ali7235
Jebel Ali4034
Jebel Ali6135
Jebel Ali6224
Jebel Ali9435
Jebel Ali7423
Jebel Ali3102
Jebel Ali7156
Jebel Ali6125
Jebel Ali3112
Jebel Ali5114
Jebel Ali6303
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali3003
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali4311
Jebel Ali3102
Jebel Ali3013
Jebel Ali3201
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali2002
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali1100
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali2101
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali2012
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali3102
Jebel Ali4113
Jebel Ali4113
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali1001
Jebel Ali4024
Jebel Ali10159
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali2002
Jebel Ali3201
Jebel Ali2012
Jebel Ali7225
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali1001
Jebel Ali9227
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali3102
Jebel Ali1001
Jebel Ali4004
Jebel Ali1001
Jebel Ali1011
Jebel Ali0000
Jebel Ali3023
Jebel Ali4113
Jebel Ali5124
Jebel Ali2111
Jebel Ali4113
Jebel Ali4113
Jebel Ali6036
Jebel Ali5035
Jebel Ali3023
Jebel Ali4044
Jebel Ali1011
Jebel Ali4014
Jebel Ali1011
Jebel Ali3122
Jebel Ali3013
Jebel Ali4311
Jebel Ali2012
Jebel Ali6115
Jebel Ali2012
Jebel Ali6224
Jebel Ali5223
Jebel Ali4103
Jebel Ali4202
Jebel Ali8177
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port1001
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port3033
Khalifa Port2022
Khalifa Port2012
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port3023
Khalifa Port5114
Khalifa Port3122
Khalifa Port3023
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port3122
Khalifa Port3122
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port2012
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port2022
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port2022
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1001
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port5045
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port5045
Khalifa Port2012
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port4044
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port4044
Khalifa Port3033
Khalifa Port2012
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port3023
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port0000
Khalifa Port1011
Khalifa Port3033
Khalifa Port2022
Khalifa Port2022
Khalifa Port1001
Port of Sohar4123
Port of Sohar3211
Port of Sohar4113
Port of Sohar7126
Port of Sohar8414
Port of Sohar5114
Port of Sohar4014
Port of Sohar5223
Port of Sohar5223
Port of Sohar6115
Port of Sohar6313
Port of Sohar3112
Port of Sohar6214
Port of Sohar1100
Port of Sohar8236
Port of Sohar7314
Port of Sohar1011
Port of Sohar6115
Port of Sohar3201
Port of Sohar111010
Port of Sohar4222
Port of Sohar5025
Port of Sohar6224
Port of Sohar1100
Port of Sohar3102
Port of Sohar2111
Port of Sohar9633
Port of Sohar2012
Port of Sohar4024
Port of Sohar122310
Port of Sohar1001
Port of Sohar3013
Port of Sohar3102
Port of Sohar9326
Port of Sohar3112
Port of Sohar10436
Port of Sohar2022
Port of Sohar6303
Port of Sohar9336
Port of Sohar1100
Port of Sohar11427
Port of Sohar4024
Port of Sohar4024
Port of Sohar3013
Port of Sohar6323
Port of Sohar8315
Port of Sohar7304
Port of Sohar0000
Port of Sohar7225
Port of Sohar4123
Port of Sohar6016
Port of Sohar6234
Port of Sohar2012
Port of Sohar6214
Port of Sohar1100
Port of Sohar12537
Port of Sohar8127
Port of Sohar1001
Port of Sohar2101
Port of Sohar2022
Port of Sohar1100
Port of Sohar8028
Port of Sohar5124
Port of Sohar3023
Port of Sohar4212
Port of Sohar5114
Port of Sohar6125
Port of Sohar2101
Port of Sohar5114
Port of Sohar4123
Port of Sohar6224
Port of Sohar8424
Port of Sohar2022
Port of Sohar5213
Port of Sohar9405
Port of Sohar3112
Port of Sohar6214
Port of Sohar5124
Port of Sohar5213
Port of Sohar4113
Port of Sohar6234
Port of Sohar4222
Port of Sohar6313
Port of Sohar3201
Port of Sohar2101
Port of Sohar8236
Port of Sohar6125
Port of Sohar5025
Port of Sohar6333
Port of Sohar1100
Ras Laffan3300
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan4202
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan4301
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan4301
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan3201
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan2200
Ras Laffan3201
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan2111
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan2200
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan3102
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan4301
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan2111
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan4202
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan2002
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan3201
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan4301
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan4400
Ras Laffan3102
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan5104
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan3201
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan3102
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan1001
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Laffan2200
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan1100
Ras Laffan2101
Ras Laffan0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura3300
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura3201
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura1100
Ras Tanura0000
Ras Tanura3300
Ras Tanura2200
Ras Tanura1100

Port metadata snapshot fetched .

Operational record

Ninety-day status

Through

  • Open
  • Selective
  • Claimed open
  • Closed
The strip records the editorial operating assessment, not the existence or absence of individual vessel movements.
Read the daily status record
Ninety-day editorial status record
DateAssessmentRecorded event
Closed Reported Saudi bypass restart does not verify Hormuz reopening; unrestricted passage remains unverified after September 21 tanker incidents.
Closed gCaptain cites UKMTO reports of two further tanker incidents; original notices await direct verification and unrestricted passage remains unverified.
Closed Prior verified status carried forward: routine unrestricted commercial passage remains unverified.
Closed Prior verified status carried forward: routine unrestricted commercial passage remains unverified.
Closed AP relays Iran’s unconfirmed Trend tanker-strike claim and warning against unauthorized passage; routine unrestricted navigation remains unverified.
Closed Prior verified status carried forward: routine unrestricted commercial passage remains unverified.
Closed Reuters reports only four observed September 15 crossings; routine unrestricted passage remains unverified and transponder-off traffic may be missed.
Closed AP relays conflicting U.S. and Iranian accounts of boat strikes; routine unrestricted commercial passage remains unverified.
Closed Routine unrestricted Hormuz passage remains unverified; AP reports additional risk to the Red Sea alternative.
Closed AP relays a fatal vessel-strike account near Qeshm and a separate UKMTO hit report; routine unrestricted passage remains unverified.
Closed AP reports disruption persists while Saudi Arabia’s pipeline bypass is shut; no routine unrestricted reopening verified.
Closed AP reports improved protected oil flows alongside continuing attacks and blockade; unrestricted passage remains unverified.
Closed AP reports Hormuz shipping remains impeded as the Houthi capture of Mokha raises alternative-route risk.
Closed AP reports Iranian ship-strike claims, a U.S. denial of warship hits, and a separate Iraqi tanker-strike report; unrestricted passage remains unverified.
Closed CENTCOM reports five more Iranian tanker strikes; AP relays retaliation threats to tankers near Kuwait and Bahrain. Routine unrestricted passage remains unverified.
Closed Prior verified status carried forward: routine unrestricted passage and implementation of Iran’s planned exclusion zone remain unverified.
Closed AP reported a U.S. denial of Iran’s vessel-strike claim and an Iranian plan for an exclusion zone; implementation and routine unrestricted passage remain unverified.
Closed CENTCOM reported strikes on three Iranian tankers; UKMTO reported disabling fire against merchant vessels in the Northern Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
Closed AP said traffic remained far below prewar levels under Iranian vetting and attack risk; a protected shuttle near Oman did not amount to routine unrestricted passage.
Closed AP reported two sailors died in a Saudi tanker attack approaching Hormuz as traffic remained a trickle and regional retaliation widened.
Closed AP said Iran claimed a tightened effective closure while only a handful of ships passed daily and vessels remained subject to attack.
Closed AP relayed UKMTO's report that an outbound tanker was struck by three unknown projectiles east of Khasab; routine passage remained unverified.
Closed AP reported renewed U.S.-Iran military action around Hormuz, including alleged sea-mine launch preparations and a UAE interception of an Iranian drone.
Closed Iran's deputy foreign minister said the Oman transit understanding is conditional, Hormuz remains closed, and any vessel passage requires Iranian coordination and authorization.
Closed AP reported Iran continues to demand formal authority over Hormuz, leaving routine unrestricted passage unresolved.
Closed AP described Hormuz as virtually closed and said CENTCOM's claim that international shipping lanes were demined and open could not be independently verified.
Closed AP reported another oil tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing that routine unrestricted navigation remained unverified.
Closed AP reported a potential Iran-Oman traffic arrangement would exclude military vessels and use controlled Iranian and Omani routes while Hormuz remained largely shut.
Closed AP reported a proposed Iran-Oman temporary navigation corridor and mine-clearing cooperation, but Hormuz remained largely shut and a tanker was disabled in an attack off Oman.
Closed UKMTO said AIS-detected traffic remained about 90% below pre-conflict levels through August 21; Reuters reported only 13 tracked commodity-vessel crossings Saturday and four Sunday.
Closed AP reported attacks had calmed, but a new Iranian authority listed dozens of vessels for future transit restrictions, leaving routine unrestricted passage unverified.
Closed AP reported Iran was facilitating passage for some Iraqi-oil ships while threatening alternative Gulf export routes, reinforcing selective rather than routine unrestricted navigation.
Closed AP reported the United States was escalating economic pressure to force Iran to fully reopen Hormuz, leaving routine unrestricted reopening unverified.
Closed AP reported the USS George Washington arrived in the Middle East while the U.S. Navy continued enforcing its blockade on Iranian ports in Hormuz.
Closed AP reported only 10 vessels crossed Hormuz on August 18, fewer than one-tenth of the unrestricted prewar norm, while the UAE said missiles targeted maritime traffic and Iran denied launching them.
Closed AP reported a ship strike and 95 confirmed weekly crossings confined to the Iranian-designated route, with none recorded on Omani routes.
Closed AP reported an Iran-Oman understanding on a transit-route map, but details and a joint statement remained unfinished and routine passage was not verified.
Closed No verified implemented passage regime superseded the latest tanker attacks, continuing blockade, and effectively shut operating picture.
Closed AP reported another ADNOC-owned tanker was attacked during a Hormuz transit, the third such attack on an ADNOC-operated vessel in a week.
Closed AP reported two ADNOC tankers suffered minor damage in drone attacks while transiting Hormuz; the UAE blamed Iran, which had not immediately responded.
Closed AP reported that the U.S. Navy's Iran-port blockade remained in force and another aircraft carrier was heading toward the region.
Closed An AP report updated August 12 described Hormuz as effectively shut and said Iranian attacks still largely impeded traffic despite a conflicting U.S. control claim.
Closed AP described Hormuz as largely closed and recent reopening attempts as short-lived as the United States returned to sanctions.
Closed AP reported Iran said it would not reopen Hormuz until the United States met its conditions, including compensation for war damage.
Closed AP reported final-stage Iran-Oman route talks, but Iran said they did not mean reopening and proposed hostile-country vessel exclusions remained unresolved.
Closed AP reported new Iranian conditions for reopening and UAE/UKMTO accounts of a fresh vessel strike east of Khasab.
Closed AP reported that a deal remained close but unsigned, Iran rejected a return to an open international waterway, and routine unrestricted passage remained unverified.
Closed AP said a draft Iran-Oman arrangement was in its final stage, while at least two ships had been hit in the past week and traffic remained far below normal.
Closed AP reported progress toward an Iran-Oman reopening arrangement, but no agreement or implemented routine passage regime was verified.
Closed AP reported a cargo ship struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Al Khasab and described Hormuz as effectively shut.
Closed AP said cargo remained stalled; Iran described only temporary-route talks, while most of nine reported Sunday transits used an Iranian-controlled route.
Closed AP said Hormuz cargo traffic remained stalled and prior announced strike pauses repeatedly broke down; no operational reopening was verified.
Closed AP reported a tanker struck and damaged on July 31 and a separate near-miss explosion on August 1; proposed deal terms to reopen Hormuz remained unagreed and unimplemented.
Closed AP reported an unconfirmed IRGC claim that two tankers were hit and four others turned around while describing Hormuz as largely closed.
Closed AP reported a renewed heavy U.S. strike wave against Iranian military and coastal sites, including a reported deadly strike on Qeshm in the Strait.
Closed AP reported an unconfirmed Revolutionary Guard claim that three unidentified tankers were struck and stopped in Hormuz after alleged route violations.
Closed AP reported that renewed Iranian missile fire shattered the three-day pause while the Strait remained choked off and routine commercial passage stayed unverified.
Closed AP reported a third day without U.S. or Iranian attacks, but Iran said Hormuz remained closed, traffic stayed at a three-week low, and the U.S. blockade continued.
Closed AP reported a second day without attacks, but commercial traffic at a three-week low, unchanged Iranian controls, and an active U.S. blockade.
Closed AP reported no overnight U.S. strikes after 13 consecutive nights, but the renewed blockade remained active and Hormuz was still effectively closed.
Closed AP reported the U.S. completed a 13th night of strikes, CENTCOM said it aimed to degrade threats to commercial vessels, and Iran still asserted control and possible fees for Hormuz traffic.
Closed An AP report updated early July 23 said a 12th night of U.S. strikes was under way while Hormuz remained largely closed, attacks continued, and diplomacy showed little visible progress.
Closed AP reported an 11th consecutive night of U.S. strikes, described Hormuz as blocked, and said shipping and negotiations remained largely stalled amid unresolved Iranian control and toll demands.
Closed AP reported daily U.S.-Iran bombing had resumed over Hormuz, Iran had not loosened its grip on the corridor, and airstrikes had not forced routine reopening.
Closed AP reported expanded U.S. bombing, Iranian retaliation against Bahrain and Kuwait, largely stalled Hormuz shipping, and a vessel fire near Oman in the Strait.
Closed AP reported U.S. strikes on Revolutionary Guard targets as fighting over Hormuz widened and said the renewed U.S. blockade had redirected five ships and disabled one.
Closed AP reported another U.S. strike wave intended in part to degrade Iran's ability to restrict Hormuz tanker traffic, while the renewed blockade continued to enforce selective movement.
Closed AP reported a sixth night of U.S. strikes, Iranian missile fire at regional states, and continued fighting over Hormuz; JMIC update 072 kept the regional threat SEVERE and cited blockade enforcement, mine risk, and GNSS interference.
Closed AP reported expanded U.S. strikes, Iranian retaliation against Gulf states, and the disabling of Belma under the renewed blockade; JMIC update 071 kept Hormuz SEVERE with reduced traffic, mine risk, and blockade enforcement.
Closed AP reported the U.S. military reimposed its blockade after commercial-ship attacks, launched another strike wave, and Iran threatened to halt regional energy exports; Trump dropped the toll plan but kept an Iran-focused blockade claim.
Closed AP reported renewed U.S. strikes, Iranian attacks on two UAE-linked tankers in the Strait, dueling U.S.-Iran control claims, a renewed U.S. blockade plan, and traffic far below prewar norms.
Closed AP reported the U.S. and Iran each asserted control of Hormuz after weekend attacks, Iran described the Strait as closed, and the U.S. said it remained open while supporting the southern Omani route.
Closed AP reported an Iranian strike left a Cyprus-flagged container ship ablaze in Hormuz, the U.S. hit about 140 Iranian targets, and Iran said the Strait would remain closed until further notice.
Closed AP reported Tehran still had not publicly guaranteed Hormuz safe passage, Iran continued to claim control and fees, and the U.S. kept urging mariners to use the southern Omani route away from IRGC commands.
Closed JMIC update 069 kept the Strait threat SEVERE, reported reduced traffic after the three-vessel attack, and said deliberate hostile action remained likely despite U.S.-assisted transits.
Closed AP reported a new U.S. strike round and Iranian fire at Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar after Hormuz ship attacks; CENTCOM said July 8 strikes targeted Iran shipping-threat capabilities.
Closed AP reported U.S. strikes on Iran after three Hormuz ship attacks, Iran targeted Bahrain and Kuwait, and JMIC raised the Strait threat to SEVERE with further deliberate hostile action likely.
Closed AP reported a tanker caught fire after a projectile strike near Limah, and Axios reported U.S. officials said Iran fired missiles at commercial ships transiting Hormuz.
Sand AP reported talks remained on hold during Khamenei funeral events while route-control tensions persisted and Trump warned Iran to make a deal or face further U.S. action.
Sand Guardian reported the diplomatic and military contest for Hormuz control intensified and ship flow dropped further, with routing shifting away from the Omani corridor.
Sand Guardian later reported at least eight ships turned around after direct IRGC warnings, reinforcing that passage remained coercive and route-controlled.
Sand No newer primary-source normalization signal; July 2 AP and JMIC evidence still showed Iranian-approved routing, substantial maritime threat, and uncertain volumes.
Sand AP reported Iran warned tankers to use Iranian-approved Hormuz routes or face force, while traffic rebounded but stayed below prewar levels and route choices remained contingent on shifting approvals.
Sand AP reported Iranian state TV said a foreign container ship grounded after failing to follow Iran's approved Hormuz route, underscoring managed passage rather than routine open navigation.
Sand AP reported U.S. envoys in Qatar for indirect implementation talks after weekend Hormuz crossfire, but Qatar and Iran said there were no direct U.S.-Iran negotiations and passage remained unresolved.
Sand AP reported a pause in U.S.-Iran strikes and continued ship movement, but also disputed talks, Iranian route-control claims, below-normal traffic, dark crossings, and elevated IRGC speedboat activity.
Closed AP reported Iran attacked Bahrain and Kuwait after U.S. strikes, and JMIC raised the Strait threat level to substantial after the Ever Lovely and M/T Kiku vessel attacks.
Closed CENTCOM said Iran hit the M/T Kiku near Hormuz with a one-way attack drone and U.S. forces struck Iranian surveillance, air-defense, drone, and minelayer capabilities.
Closed Trump said Iran launched one-way attack drones at ships transiting Hormuz, including a cargo-ship hit; the new escalation signal reinforced that managed movement was not normalized open passage.
Closed AP reported the IMO paused Hormuz evacuations after the Ever Lovely was reportedly attacked near Oman; route-control warnings, mines, and enforcement risk outweighed isolated managed transits.

Reported shadow movement

What public tracking can miss

A sourced log of AIS-dark, spoofed, or otherwise low-visibility cases. Zero logged reports do not prove zero hidden movement.

Reported case

Pola crosses after going dark at the Strait

Reuters reported that the Suezmax tanker Pola switched off its AIS tracker as it approached Hormuz on March 2 and reappeared off Abu Dhabi on March 3 while heading to load UAE crude.

Reuters

Reported case

Ships broadcast 'CHINA OWNER' to lower attack risk

AP reported that at least eight vessels in or near the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman changed their declared destination signals to messages such as 'CHINA OWNER' or 'CHINA OWNER&CREW' while some continued through the Strait.

AP

Reported case

Marathi resumes broadcasting after a Gulf-to-India blind stretch

In the same Reuters reporting that confirmed three Chinese ships had passed, vessel-tracking data showed the Maltese-flagged tanker Marathi began broadcasting off India on March 26 after last reporting its position inside the Gulf on March 2.

Reuters

Reported case

French, Japanese and Omani-linked ships slip through under muted signals

Reuters reported that a French-owned container ship, three Omani-operated tankers, and a Japanese-linked gas carrier crossed Hormuz; the French vessel changed its AIS destination to 'Owner France' and the vessels' signals disappeared during the crossing.

Reuters

Global context

Latest chokepoint comparison

Compact PortWatch context, sorted by the upstream snapshot rather than a house risk score.

Top ten chokepoints by latest published total crossings
RankChokepointPublished dateCrossingsTankers
1Taiwan Strait23048
2Malacca Strait23078
3Korea Strait22656
4Dover Strait18161
5Bohai Strait13337
6Luzon Strait9924
7Gibraltar Strait9628
8Cape of Good Hope8514
9Bosporus Strait6216
10Mindoro Strait575

Source: IMF PortWatch · fetched .

Gulf context

The broader port register

The active six-port watch sits inside a larger PortWatch metadata snapshot. The table is structural context, not a live queue.

Ten Gulf ports with the largest annual vessel totals in the current metadata snapshot
PortCountryAnnual totalTankersContainers
Jebel AliUnited Arab Emirates773413734495
JeddahSaudi Arabia35555821851
FujairahUnited Arab Emirates346231658
Khalifa PortUnited Arab Emirates2299951675
JubailSaudi Arabia21951417302
Port of SoharOman1967624505
Ras LaffanQatar179016348
DubaiUnited Arab Emirates1752389123
SalalahOman16451871036
DammamSaudi Arabia162235556

65 Gulf ports in the snapshot · source: IMF PortWatch.