Unusual ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz are prompting questions regarding Iran’s potential informal screening of vessels before they exit the Persian Gulf. Analysis by EOS Risk Group indicates that several ships have recently taken a non-standard route between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands, possibly serving as a verification checkpoint. This development comes amid a significant decline in commercial shipping traffic in the region, attributed to various attacks on merchant vessels.
One noteworthy transit involved the Aframax tanker, which transported Abu Dhabi’s Das crude. During its passage, the tanker continuously broadcast AIS signals, marking it as the first non-Iranian cargo vessel to do so since the escalation of the maritime crisis. Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, suggests that this routing may symbolize Iran’s efforts to approve vessels for transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
AIS tracking data reveals that multiple vessels are now following similar paths, diverging towards Iranian waters before moving southward into the Gulf of Oman. However, despite these select transits, overall shipping activity remains significantly reduced, as many tankers are still hesitant due to rising war-risk insurance costs and ongoing geopolitical tensions. This pattern implies that the Strait may be transitioning from an open waterway to a more controlled maritime route, where passage relies on diplomatic negotiations and verification rather than simple navigation.
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