BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 17. Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply last week, while vessel traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait increased, according to shipping data analysis firm Kpler.
Kpler said 95 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz during the week beginning August 10, representing a 19.5 percent decline. The number of crossings fell particularly sharply toward the end of the week, reaching just three on August 16.
According to the data firm, vessels that continued to transit the area used routes on the Iranian side of the strait or alternative routes. Kpler said no crossings were recorded through the Strait’s Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) or the Omani routes during the period.
The decline comes amid continued tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy and shipping corridors. Disruptions to traffic through the waterway have raised concerns over oil supplies, maritime security and regional trade.
At the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, another major gateway for international shipping, vessel traffic moved in the opposite direction.
Kpler said crossings through Bab al-Mandeb increased by 6.7 percent to 254 vessels during the same period. At the same time, the number of so-called dark transits, in which vessels operate without visible tracking signals, fell from 40 to 16.
The contrasting figures suggest that some shipping activity may be shifting toward alternative maritime routes as operators seek to reduce exposure to the risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Kpler noted that the increase in Bab al-Mandeb traffic occurred despite volatile security conditions in the region.
