On the first day (April 13), the US imposed a blockade on ships related to Iranian ports, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz was almost not significantly affected. Transport data shows that at least 8 ships, including 3 ships related to Iran, are still passing through this strategic sea route.
Mr. Donald Trump announced a blockade after negotiations in Islamabad failed to yield results. This move increases instability for shipping lines, oil companies and war risk insurance.
The US Central Command said that in the first 24 hours, no ships passed through the blockade to reach Iranian ports, and 6 ships complied with turnaround instructions. 3 ships related to Iran passed through the strait not heading towards the Iranian port, so they were not affected.
A Panamanian-flagged ship is moving to Hamriyah port of the United Arab Emirates, often transporting naphta from Iran to other Middle Eastern ports before exporting to Asia. Previously, 2 ships sanctioned by the US also passed through this area.
Another oil tanker is heading to Iraq to receive fuel, while the Rich Starry became one of the first ships to leave the Gulf since the blockade began. The ship carries about 250,000 barrels of methanol, cargo is loaded at Hamriyah port.
5 other ships have also moved across the strait since the blockade took effect, including ships carrying chemicals, gas, dry goods and a ship docking at Iran's Bandar Abbas port. The US military announced that humanitarian shipments will be exempt from the blockade order.
According to Mr. Fabrizio Coticchia, professor of political science at the University of Genoa in Italy, the US does not need to control all ships and can apply intermittent blockade, mainly changing direction instead of attacking. US warships are believed to be operating outside the strait, in the Gulf of Oman.
War risk insurance costs have not increased after the blockade, but are still high, reaching hundreds of thousands of USD per week. Insurance companies re-evaluate premiums every 48 hours.
Although traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has not been completely disrupted, many assessments suggest that the prospect of returning to normal in the Middle East is increasingly distant and trade through the strait may continue to be low in the near future.
