Strait of Hormuz Records Zero Vessels in Last 24 Hours

(MENAFN) Not a single major commercial vessel passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the 24 hours leading up to 0900GMT Thursday, as surging security risks and tightening Iranian controls strangled one of the world's most strategically vital maritime corridors, according to ship tracking data compiled by a Turkish new agency.

The complete halt marks a dramatic deepening of shipping disruptions that have spiraled since US-Israeli military operations against Iran commenced on Feb. 28. In recent weeks, commercial traffic through the waterway has plummeted, with growing numbers of operators diverting vessels or abandoning Gulf routes altogether amid signal jamming, security threats, and mounting uncertainty over passage conditions.

Chinese Tanker Attack Triggers Beijing Warning
The latest standstill followed a report by Beijing-based outlet Caixin that a Chinese-owned supertanker came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday — the first such strike involving a Chinese vessel since the war erupted. The assault reportedly broke out near the United Arab Emirates' Al Jeer port, igniting a fire on the ship's deck.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded swiftly, vowing that Beijing would press for de-escalation while prioritizing the protection of its nationals and vessels.

"We hope relevant parties will act prudently, avoid further escalation, resolve disputes through dialogue, and restore peace and tranquility in the Strait soon," Lin said Wednesday.

French Vessels at Center of Transit Drama
Western-linked ships have also found themselves caught in the escalating danger zone. The French-owned CMA CGM Saigon resurfaced off Oman's coastline late Wednesday after vanishing from tracking systems while navigating the Persian Gulf — strongly indicating the container ship cut through the strait with its Automatic Identification System deliberately disabled, a maneuver consistent with the area's intensifying signal jamming environment. The vessel had last pinged off Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE before reappearing in the Arabian Sea, bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The crossing positioned the CMA CGM Saigon among a small handful of Western Europe-linked ships to transit the strait without incident since hostilities broke out.

Its sister vessel was not as fortunate. The CMA CGM San Antonio, also operated by the French shipping giant, was attacked while making the same crossing on Tuesday, leaving crew members injured and the ship damaged.

Iran Asserts Control With New Transit Rules
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy declared Wednesday that vessels were falling in line with Tehran's newly imposed navigation protocols. In a post on the US social media platform X, the IRGC Navy stated that ship compliance was reinforcing regional maritime security and pledged that orderly passage would be maintained under the new framework.

The day prior, the IRGC Navy had put all mariners on notice, warning that only Iran-designated corridors were to be used and that any deviation would be treated as a threat.

"All vessels intending to pass through the strait must use a corridor previously announced by Iran, and any deviation would face firm action," it said, describing the designated route as the "only safe passage" through the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz serves as the principal artery for global energy flows, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Its effective closure has sent alarm signals through energy markets already strained by the conflict, with oil, liquefied natural gas, and refined fuel supplies all hanging in the balance.

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