Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz were slowed down following the attack on a ship, while prices of oil have fallen, and shipping remains vulnerable.
Attack on a ship sparks new concerns in the shipping industry
Traffic was light today for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after an attack on a ship operated by the Taiwanese Evergreen Marine, according to ship-tracking data.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended the operation to evacuate hundreds of ships and thousands of seafarers from the Persian Gulf, following damage sustained by a vessel in the strait off the coast of Oman.
Despite the growing concern, at least four tankers, of which three were very large crude carriers (VLCCs) with a capacity of up to 2 million barrels each, entered the Gulf to load oil, according to data from LSEG and MarineTraffic.
At the same time, two more supertankers passed through the Strait to pick up Iranian oil, while another tanker left the area carrying approximately 2 million barrels, according to an analysis by Kpler.
Decline in shipments and drop in oil prices
oil buyers are seeking to replenish their stocks following months of turmoil caused by the war with Iran, taking advantage of the ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, crude oil prices fell by more than 3% and are heading toward significant weekly losses.
Before the conflict began, an average of Strait of Hormuz, an average of 125 ships per day passed through. Evergreen Marine announced that one of its ships was struck near Oman by an “unknown projectile,” following statements made yesterday by U.S. officials to Reuters that Iran was behind the attack.
As stated by the head of security for the shipping association BIMCO, Jakob Larsen, the attack represents a “setback” to efforts to free the ships and fully resume transit through the Strait of Hormuz, although it is estimated that some shipments will continue.
According to Kpler, only 13 tanker transits were recorded today in both directions, compared to 24 yesterday and 27 on Wednesday, when the highest number of crossings was recorded since the start of the conflict following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
