On Day 2 of the ceasefire in Iran, ship traffic across the Strait of Hormuz which had slowly increased to 10% of pre-war levels before the ceasefire, dwindled to almost zero. With direct talks between Iran and the U.S. scheduled to begin soon in Pakistan, shippers await clarity on the protocols for the transit agreed to by all the stakeholders.
Ship tracker websites show that Marivex, an oil tanker with a cargo capacity of 12,800 tonnes, is carrying oil from Bandar Abbas in Iran to New Mangalore Port. MSG, an oil tanker of 7,000 tonnes cargo capacity, is carrying cargo from UAE to India. Both transited the strait late on April 9, 2026.
Shippers seek clarity as Iran still controls Strait of Hormuz
Uncertainty continues to define the market, said Erik Grundt, Senior Analyst at Rystad Energy, adding only one transit was recorded on April 9 which was a “dark” transit of an Iran-linked vessel. Mr. Grundt talked about how a high-priced contract for cargo on a very large crude carrier likely in the Persian Gulf was considered but cancelled soon after. He saw this as an indication of the shipping industry’s distrust of the idea of crossing the strait now.
EU slams Hormuz toll idea, urges unrestricted freedom of navigation
