Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed on Friday after a Taiwanese-operated vessel was struck near Oman in an attack that U.S. officials attributed to Iran, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes.
The United Nations shipping agency temporarily suspended its voluntary evacuation programme for stranded vessels and seafarers in the Gulf following the incident, delaying efforts to restore normal shipping operations after the recent Iran conflict.
Despite the disruption, several oil tankers continued transiting the waterway, with at least four crude carriers entering the Gulf to load cargoes while other supertankers moved Iranian oil through the strait, according to shipping data from LSEG, MarineTraffic and Kpler.
The attack came as oil buyers sought to rebuild inventories after months of supply disruptions caused by the Iran war, even as a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran eased broader market concerns.
Saudi Arabia also resumed oil loadings in the Gulf, helping improve supply expectations and contributing to a more than 3% decline in crude prices on Friday, extending weekly losses.
Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine said its vessel was hit by an “unknown object” near Oman, while U.S. officials said Iran had fired on the ship, highlighting lingering risks despite the ceasefire.
BIMCO’s chief safety and security officer, Jakob Larsen, said the incident had disrupted plans to normalize shipping and stressed the need for clear agreements between the United States and Iran to ensure safe passage through the strait.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz could not be guaranteed without coordination with Tehran.
Shipping data showed tanker movements through the strait fell to 13 transits on Friday, down from 24 on Thursday and 27 on Wednesday, indicating that traffic remains well below pre-conflict levels.
Analysts at AXSMarine said overall vessel movements have yet to recover fully, with traffic still significantly below last year’s levels despite a gradual return of commercial shipping.