Between June 11 and June 14, the Strait of Hormuz experienced a dramatic reduction in visible commercial shipping traffic, with AIS data registering almost no vessel crossings. This operational slowdown coincided with a surge in activity by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small craft, indicating a period of heightened tension and potential risk in the critical waterway. Concurrently, covert export operations continued to function, despite sustained enforcement efforts by the United States.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this situation implies significant disruptions to vessel scheduling and routing through the Strait of Hormuz. The near-zero AIS traffic suggests that carriers are either avoiding the area or operating with transponders off, both of which introduce considerable uncertainty and risk. Shippers with cargo transiting this region should anticipate potential delays, increased war risk premiums, and possible rerouting, which could impact transit times and freight costs.
