Strait of Hormuz Sees Near Standstill in Commercial Transit, Sanctioned Tankers Predominate
For a period of six to seven consecutive days, commercial vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz has remained near a standstill. During this time, the observed crossings have primarily involved tankers linked to Iran and identified as being under US sanctions. Vessel-tracking data indicates several specific transits by such vessels, including a Palau-flagged gas supertanker, the Danuta I, which completed its passage on a recent Friday morning.
Sustained Limited Transit
Commercial vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz has remained near a standstill for a period of six to seven consecutive days. During this timeframe, observed crossings have predominantly involved tankers linked to Iran and identified as being under US sanctions.
A Friday note from the Bahrain-based Joint Maritime Information Center reported an almost complete halt in Strait traffic prior to specific transits that occurred recently.
Observed Vessel Movements
According to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, specific transits observed over recent 24-hour periods include:
- One Iran-linked supertanker departing the Persian Gulf.
- One liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier entering the Persian Gulf.
- Both of these observed ships were noted as being under US sanctions.
- One Iran-linked bulk carrier departing the Persian Gulf, with no ships observed making the journey in the opposite direction during that specific period.
The Danuta I Transit
On Friday, the Danuta I, a Palau-flagged gas supertanker, completed its transit through the Strait of Hormuz in the early morning local time. This US-sanctioned vessel was identified for handling Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and had acquired cargo within the Persian Gulf, as indicated by an observed increase in its draft.
During its journey within the Gulf and through the strait, the Danuta I exhibited an inconsistent signaling pattern. This inconsistency suggested potential transponder deactivation or the issuance of inaccurate positioning signals. Signal jamming in the region was cited as a possible contributing factor.
According to a Bloomberg review, the vessel's owner, Panama-based Ithaki Maritime and Trading, reportedly has no apparent online presence or publicly known contact methods.
Regional Shipping Environment
Reports indicate that the Strait of Hormuz currently presents commercial and safety risks for legitimate shipowners, a situation that has reportedly led to multiple tankers awaiting exit from the Gulf.
It has been suggested that "dark fleet" or sanctioned tankers might undertake transits, potentially following communication with Iranian forces.
The transit of vessels such as the Danuta I was also suggested as potentially encouraging other "dark fleet" tankers to use the strait.