Vessels Avoid Strait of Hormuz Amid US-Iran Tensions
An increasing number of commercial vessels are navigating the Strait of Hormuz with their tracking systems turned off, according to Bloomberg. On a recent Sunday, all six commodity carriers that crossed the strait did so without transmitting their locations. This trend, known as 'dark crossings,' has surpassed observable passages in recent days. The decline in traffic through the US-backed southern shipping corridor has been attributed to Iranian attacks on vessels, including those with disabled transponders. Meanwhile, the northern route under Iranian oversight continues to see limited crossings. The situation follows conflicting claims from Iran and the US regarding navigation rights in the strait, with Iranian forces reportedly attacking four vessels in the past week.
Published 2 days ago • 13 Jul 2026, 07:32 PM IST