Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply this week, with only nine ships making the crossing, even as Cyprus joined a broad coalition of countries pressing for the route to be reopened to unimpeded shipping.
According to preliminary figures from Kpler, eight vessels exited the strait on Thursday and just one entered, a steep decline from the 14 crossings recorded the day before. The ten-day average sits at 18 vessels. Some ships may have disabled their tracking transponders, meaning the real number of crossings could be somewhat higher than reported.
Thursday's outbound traffic included an empty very large gas carrier, a fully loaded very large crude carrier, several Panamax and Supramax vessels, and short- and medium-range tankers. The single inbound vessel was a Handymax bulk carrier.
For context, before hostilities involving Iran broke out on February 28, roughly 125 large commercial ships passed through Hormuz daily. The strait remains a critical energy artery, handling about a fifth of the world's crude oil and LNG supply.
Even with far fewer ships making the trip, oil is still flowing. Saudi Arabia has ramped up exports via Hormuz to compensate for disruptions to its East-West Pipeline and reduced capacity through the Red Sea. Saudi crude volumes through the strait have jumped to roughly 2.9 million barrels a day, up from around 700,000 in August. That shift comes at a price: insurance costs for tankers loading at Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea port have reportedly tripled in recent weeks.
Security conditions across the wider Gulf continue to deteriorate. The International Maritime Organisation had logged 85 confirmed shipping incidents in the region as of September 24, with 24 seafarer deaths, up from 80 incidents and 22 deaths just a week earlier. Recent cases include the Cape Dao, damaged near Khasab, Oman on September 23 with one fatality, and the Al Maryah and LR Stephanie, both damaged on September 21, with two crew members injured on the latter.
On Thursday, Cyprus was among 80 countries and organizations that signed a UN statement calling for the safe, secure and unrestricted passage of ships through Hormuz under international law. Delivered by Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the statement rejected any tolls or conditions on transit and warned that instability in both Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb is straining global maritime security and trade. Signatories emphasized that commercial shipping and seafarers must not become bargaining chips in political or military conflicts.
The matter carries growing weight for Cyprus. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos met with Al Zayani in New York this week, discussing regional developments alongside bilateral ties on the margins of the UN General Assembly.
Cyprus's shipping industry is also feeling the strain directly. In Limassol, the Cyprus Marine Club held a session, led by Aphentrica Marine Insurance Brokers, on how war-risk insurance is adjusting to the situation in Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea, covering rising premiums and coverage for hull damage, salvage, crew liability and loss of hire.
The Cyprus Union of Shipowners has flagged navigation safety as a top concern for the sector. At its September 18 annual meeting, president Polys Hajioannou pointed to geopolitical risks alongside regulatory pressures like the EU Emissions Trading System, FuelEU Maritime, and the broader green transition.
Similar concerns were raised at the UN a day earlier by Thomas Kazakos, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping and former head of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber. Speaking at a Security Council session on September 17, Kazakos said commercial shipping needs to move safely and predictably through international waterways, warning that "shipping must not be held to ransom." He called Hormuz one of the world's key trade arteries, carrying roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil along with major LNG and fertilizer volumes, and argued ships shouldn't have to negotiate passage or face arbitrary restrictions because of rising geopolitical tensions.
By contrast, traffic through Bab el-Mandeb held relatively steady Thursday, with 26 vessels crossing, 12 inbound and 14 outbound, including a fully laden VLCC carrying Iraqi Basrah crude bound for Egypt.