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
10 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
10

Seven-day average
16.4

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 Jul 12, 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
10 1 9
14 4 10
9 4 5
11 4 7
15 5 10
28 12 16
28 14 14
26 16 10
22 11 11
31 21 10
34 18 16
40 23 17
21 6 15
31 13 18
20 11 9
27 9 18
37 19 18
50 23 27
51 21 30
15 5 10
14 9 5
8 1 7
26 12 14
13 5 8
22 11 11
15 1 14
12 2 10
11 1 10
6 0 6
4 0 4
7 1 6
7 2 5
6 1 5
6 2 4
8 2 6
3 1 2
3 0 3
3 0 3
6 2 4
11 4 7
6 4 2
3 2 1
3 0 3
5 1 4
4 0 4
4 0 4
6 2 4
7 2 5
7 0 7
9 2 7
8 1 7
6 0 6
8 2 6
13 5 8
7 3 4
6 1 5
5 2 3
10 2 8
5 2 3
9 4 5
8 2 6
6 1 5
9 4 5
9 3 6
5 2 3
4 1 3
4 1 3
2 0 2
1 0 1
4 0 4
6 1 5
10 5 5
10 4 6
7 4 3
5 3 2
5 2 3
0 0 0
3 2 1
6 2 4
8 3 5
3 2 1
7 4 3
4 3 1
8 5 3
7 5 2
22 14 8
18 10 8
11 5 6
13 7 6
9 5 4

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 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.
Sand New Trump claims of a lifted U.S. blockade and record oil flow were not matched by normal AIS counts or clearance of the mined central route; managed passage remained the defensible finding.
Sand AP and JMIC reported traffic increasing after the U.S.-Iran MOU, but mined central routing, alternate-route use, GNSS interference, and unresolved control questions kept normal passage unverified.
Sand AP reported safe-passage mechanisms from Swiss talks while ship-tracking showed reduced crossings after Iran renewed its closure claim; managed movement remains short of normal passage.
Sand Iran said it closed Hormuz again while CENTCOM reported 55 merchant ships transited; JMIC southern-route procedures, mines, congestion, and talks risk keep normal passage unverified.
Sand JMIC says Hormuz is open and blockade operations have ceased, but mine-cleared routing, TSS avoidance, congestion, and delayed follow-on talks keep normal passage unverified.
Sand AP reported unresolved Iran-deal implementation and delayed follow-on talks, while shipping-industry reporting said mines and routing constraints still blocked normal Hormuz operations.
Sand AP said the U.S. and Iran signed an initial Hormuz reopening framework, while JMIC still reported substantial risk, mine concerns, GNSS interference, and reduced traffic.
Sand AP said the G7 backed a tentative Hormuz reopening deal, but the text remained unreleased and operational normalization still could take weeks or months.
Sand AP reported allies were planning possible mine-clearance and escort support, while Trump said Hormuz was partially opened; routine unrestricted passage remained unverified.
Sand AP reported an initial U.S.-Iran deal and Trump ordered Hormuz opening, but implementation awaited Friday signing and operating normalization remained unverified.
Closed AP said a possible U.S.-Iran deal remained close but unsigned; Iran rejected a Sunday signing timeline and Hormuz reopening stayed deal-contingent.
Closed AP reported agreed wording for a possible U.S.-Iran deal, but reopening remained prospective and CENTCOM said Iranian drones targeted commercial ships in Hormuz.
Closed AP reported Trump was again raising expectations for an Iran deal, but Iran had not confirmed final terms and AP said Iran continued to effectively keep Hormuz closed.
Closed AP and CENTCOM reported a second day of U.S.-Iran strikes, Iran maintaining its Hormuz chokehold, and another fatal blockade vessel disablement; no verified operational reopening followed.
Closed AP and CENTCOM reported U.S. strikes near Hormuz, Iranian retaliation, and continued blockade enforcement; no verified operational reopening followed.
Closed AP reported a U.S. Army Apache crashed near the Strait of Hormuz and said the waterway remained under Iran's chokehold; no verified reopening followed.
Closed AP reported wider Israel-Iran strikes, fire at a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia, and Iran's Hormuz chokehold still challenging war-ending talks; no verified reopening followed.
Closed AP reported CENTCOM said U.S. forces shot down two more Iranian attack drones over Hormuz after Iran fired at Gulf allies; no verified reopening followed.
Closed CENTCOM, AP, and Reuters reported Iranian missiles or drones near Hormuz, U.S. radar-site strikes, and continued permissioned or threatened passage; no verified reopening followed.
Closed Reuters and AFP-derived reports showed reopening hopes and AIS-dark tanker movement, but no verified normal commercial passage.
Closed A Reuters-derived report described a possible temporary deal to restore safe shipping, but no verified operational reopening followed.
Closed AP reported a drone strike on Kuwait airport and continued U.S. efforts to loosen Iran's Hormuz chokehold; no verified operational reopening followed.
Closed CENTCOM said Iranian drones targeted civilian mariners, U.S. forces struck Qeshm Island, and U.S. forces disabled a sixth blockade vessel; no verified reopening followed.
Closed AP reported fresh U.S.-Iran strikes and said Hormuz traffic remained a trickle under Iran's chokehold; no verified reopening followed.
Closed Bloomberg reported 29 trapped non-Iranian vessels had exited with U.S. informational support, but blockade, attack risk, and no verified reopening persisted.
Closed CENTCOM said U.S. forces disabled another blockade-running vessel and AP reported continued low-volume, rule-bound traffic; no verified reopening followed.
Closed AP said Trump ended a Situation Room meeting without approving the tentative Iran-Hormuz deal; Trump posted reopening terms, but no verified operational reopening followed.
Closed AP and Reuters described only a tentative, unapproved Hormuz deal while CENTCOM reported Iranian drones threatening the Strait area and Treasury targeted Iran's shipping-control authority.
Closed AP said Hormuz deal talks remained in flux and Reuters said flows through the Strait remained restricted; no verified reopening followed.
Closed AP and Reuters reported U.S. strikes on Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats; no verified source showed operational reopening.
Closed AP reported an emerging Iran deal, but reopening terms remained unresolved while blockade and PortWatch disruption evidence stayed active.
Closed CENTCOM confirmed 100 blockade redirects while AP reported a Hormuz reopening deal remained subject to finalization.
Closed AP reported only slight progress in Iran talks and NATO postwar-policing discussions; no verified source showed operational reopening.
Closed Routine check found no verified reopening; latest PortWatch counts remained low and intermittent through May 17 while blockade enforcement remained active.
Closed No stronger Reuters, AP, CENTCOM, UKMTO, or JMIC evidence showed normalized reopening after May 20 selective transits and blockade enforcement.
Closed AP reported a U.S. tanker boarding and Reuters reported selective tanker exits amid low traffic, hundreds blocked, and no verified normalization.
Closed AP and Axios reported Trump paused a planned Iran strike for talks, but no verified evidence showed normalized Hormuz commercial passage.
Closed A new May 17 Trump Iran threat raised political risk, but no verified reporting showed normalized Hormuz commercial passage.
Closed CENTCOM still showed May 8 as its latest Hormuz-related press release, while PortWatch data still ended at low intermittent counts through May 10.
Closed Routine checks found no official, AP, or Reuters evidence of normalized reopening after the May 14-15 seizure, sinking, and blockade reports.
Closed New AP and Reuters reporting showed a vessel seized near Fujairah and another sunk off Oman; CENTCOM-linked reporting showed blockade redirections rising.
Closed AP again described effective closure during the Trump-Xi summit; Reuters, CENTCOM, JMIC, and PortWatch evidence still did not show normalization.
Closed Reuters and AP still described Hormuz as effectively shut or in Iran's chokehold while refreshed AIS counts stayed low and intermittent.
Closed AP reported Trump was seeking China's help to pressure Iran to accept U.S. terms or reopen Hormuz; no verified reopening followed.
Closed Reuters reported Trump rejected Iran's response and that the stalemate was keeping Hormuz shipping largely closed or paralyzed.
Closed Reuters reported Iran sent a response aimed at halting the war and allowing Hormuz traffic, but any Qatari LNG movement remained selective and Iran-approved.
Closed AP and Reuters reported relative calm but no verified reopening, with Iran warning against further tanker attacks and diplomacy still unresolved.
Closed AP and CENTCOM reported two more Iranian-flagged tankers disabled under blockade enforcement after overnight Strait fire exchanges.
Closed AP and Axios reported U.S. and Iranian fire in the Strait; Reuters said reopening Hormuz remained unresolved in peace talks.
Closed AP, Reuters, CENTCOM, and JMIC still showed a paused escort effort, active blockade enforcement, attacks, and reduced Strait traffic.
Closed AP and Reuters reported only two known U.S.-guarded crossings, continued attacks, and hundreds of ships still bottled up.
Closed Reuters saw no broad traffic recovery; AP reported U.S. transits alongside renewed fighting and Iranian attacks.
Closed Trump announced Project Freedom to guide stuck ships through Hormuz starting Monday.
Closed Iran offered a Strait deal, but no verified reopening or traffic normalization followed.
Closed Iran sent a new response through mediators, but Trump said he was not satisfied; no verified reopening followed.
Closed Trump kept the U.S. blockade tied to nuclear-deal leverage after rejecting Iran's reopen-first proposal.
Closed No verified normalization followed; selective crossings continued to fall far short of open commercial traffic.
Closed AP said roughly 80 vessels passed during April 13-19, but most ships still could not pass and crews remained stranded.
Closed Reuters reported only seven ships in the prior 24 hours and six Iranian tankers turned back under the blockade.
Closed Ceasefire diplomacy continued, but AP still described the Strait as effectively shut and crews remained stranded.
Closed Washington widened pressure with new sanctions on a Chinese refinery and about 40 shipping firms and vessels; no verified reopening followed.
Closed Reuters reported only five ships in the prior 24 hours, keeping Hormuz in near-standstill conditions.
Closed Trump ordered U.S. forces to shoot mine-laying boats; Iran kept its grip on shipping.
Closed Iran fired on three ships in the Strait and seized two outbound container vessels.
Closed Traffic remained largely halted; Reuters reported only three ships in the prior 24 hours.
Closed IRGC: 'Completely closed'. Active conflict resumed.
Closed IRGC: 'Completely closed'. Active conflict resumed.
Closed IRGC: 'Completely closed'. Active conflict resumed.
Sand Iran declares Strait 'Open'; US blockade remains active.

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 Strait40189
2Malacca Strait23384
3Bohai Strait19522
4Korea Strait17845
5Dover Strait15452
6Gibraltar Strait14452
7Luzon Strait10236
8Cape of Good Hope9718
9Bosporus Strait9528
10Tsugaru Strait6615

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.