Strait of Hormuz Ship Traffic Plunges to Just 13 as US-Iran Strikes Spook Global Shipping

Strait of Hormuz Ship Traffic Plunges to Just 13 as US-Iran Strikes Spook Global Shipping

Only 13 merchant ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, a dramatic collapse in traffic as renewed military strikes between the United States and Iran send shippers fleeing the world's most critical oil chokepoint.

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Days of back-and-forth strikes between the US and Iran have shaken the Middle East, with an interim deal to end the conflict collapsing and fears rising that the region could slide back into all-out war [196641][198429]. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments pass, saw just eight vessels leaving the Persian Gulf and five entering on Wednesday, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler [198041]. This figure is a fraction of the dozens of daily transits normally recorded, signaling that many shipping companies are avoiding the route until tensions ease [198041].

The escalating conflict is also disrupting air travel. Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, has postponed the resumption of direct flights to the Middle East. On Friday, the carrier announced that its daily passenger flights to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, will now resume on October 25, and its four weekly flights to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, are delayed until October 26 [198429]. The airline had previously planned to restart service to both destinations on September 1, but the decision follows recent attacks between US and Iranian forces [198429].

Sources

Cathay Pacific Delays Middle East Flights as Iran Tensions Rise #198429Middle East war fears return. Flights cancelled. #196641Hormuz traffic dives to just 13 ships as US-Iran strikes escalate #198041

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