On April 19, the London-based maritime analysis firm Windward said that up to 35 ships had to change direction or turn around in the past 36 hours after Iran re-imposed control in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Windward's report, maritime activities in Hormuz have changed very rapidly in recent days due to the constantly changing security situation.
After Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, transport companies and ship owners initially maintained a cautious mentality. On the morning of April 19, the traffic through the area was still quite low.
However, by the end of the day, the number of ships increased sharply as many ships tried to take advantage of passing through before the conditions became worse.
The report said a total of 35 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 19. Among these, 8 ships entered the area, including 4 oil tankers, 2 bulk cargo ships and 2 conventional cargo ships.
In the opposite direction, there were 27 ships leaving the area, including 8 oil tankers, 3 bulk ships, 15 cargo ships and 1 passenger ship.
However, after Iran continued to announce tightening control of the Strait of Hormuz at the end of April 19, the behavior of the ships changed significantly.
Many ships are starting to turn around or choose to wait outside the area instead of continuing their journey across the strait. According to Windward, the continuous change of direction of ships shows that shipping lines are having to re-evaluate risks almost hourly.
According to the maritime analysis company Windward, up to 35 ships had to change direction or turn around after Iran re-imposed control in the Strait of Hormuz.
The report also recorded 3 more ship attacks on April 19.
Thus, since the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran broke out, a total of 29 ships have been attacked in the area. Recent attacks continue to increase concerns that the Strait of Hormuz could become a new hotspot for international maritime transport.
Hormuz is one of the world's most important strategic shipping routes. It is the gateway connecting the Gulf with the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. About 20% of global oil trade is transported through this region every day. Therefore, any disruption in Hormuz could directly affect oil prices, transportation costs, supply chains and the international energy market.
In the context of regional tensions showing no signs of cooling down, many transport companies are said to be considering adjusting schedules, changing routes or delaying ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid risks.
Analysts believe that if instability continues, trade through the Gulf region may be clearly affected in the near future.
