Paris (France), (AFP) – Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell on Monday to its lowest levels, despite the United States’ attempt to reopen this strategic corridor that has been practically closed by Iran since the start of the war in the Middle East, according to data from the Kepler maritime analysis company, seen by Agence France-Presse.
Kepler, which only tracks raw materials ships, monitored the crossing of one ship on Monday, and did not record the crossing of any ship on Tuesday.
Such a decline in shipping traffic has not been recorded since the start of the war, with the United States and Israel launching their first attacks on Iran on February 28.
According to Lloyd’s List, a maritime data website, about 120 ships were crossing the Strait of Hormuz daily.
Since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, Tehran has practically closed the strategic strait through which a fifth of global oil production and large quantities of liquefied natural gas usually pass. For its part, the United States imposed a blockade on the ports of the Islamic Republic for weeks, in connection with Iran’s restriction of navigation.
On Monday, the ship “Noh Gas”, which was carrying 11,357 tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas, was transferred to it by the ship “Tanya Star” on May 1, after it had loaded it on April 25 in the port of Mahshahr.
The destination of “Noh Gas” is not yet known.
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the suspension of the “Project Freedom” operation that he had launched the previous day to escort ships through the vital strait, speaking of “making significant progress towards a complete and final agreement” with Tehran.
Washington announced on Monday that two commercial ships flying the American flag crossed the Strait of Hormuz “successfully” with American escort, while Iran denied this.
Since the announcement of Operation “Project Freedom” on Sunday, attacks on ships have increased.
In the latest incident of its kind, the French shipping company CMA CGM confirmed on Wednesday that the container ship “San Antonio”, flying the Maltese flag, was attacked on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, which according to the company caused “injuries among the crew members” who were “evacuated and treated” while the ship was damaged.
The International Maritime Organization also announced two attacks on Sunday targeting the Minoan Falcon ship and the TMO Baraka oil carrier, owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
TMO Baraka was hit by two drones off the coast of Oman, according to the company. The crew was forced to abandon it, according to the International Maritime Organization.
