Vessels Bypass Iranian Routes via Oman Passage Amid Security Concerns

Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased from Wednesday’s peak, yet ships continued to use an Iran-unapproved route, as tracking systems revealed a vessel hit by a project

At least 42 cargo ships—including oil, gas, and dry bulk carriers—transited Thursday, per Kpler data, down from 57 on Wednesday.

Ten entered the Gulf, while 32 exited, with half taking a southern route near Oman’s coast.

An additional 29 ships had passed by Friday, 10 entering and 19 exiting, with 17 using the Omani corridor despite warnings.

A Singapore-flagged container ship reported being struck during the passage on Thursday, per UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) records.

Marine Traffic logs show around 15 vessels crossed between Thursday 1410 GMT and midnight, following an IRGC strike.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated Oman and the IMO established the new route without Tehran’s input, urging ships to avoid it.

“Only Iran-designated routes are authorized through Hormuz,” the IRGC reiterated.

The attack halted an IMO plan to evacuate ~11,000 mariners stranded by the strait’s closure.

“I’ve paused the evacuation plan to verify safety measures for vessels on our list,” IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated.

Since June 15, transit has risen steadily, though it still falls short of the strait’s usual ~20% share of global oil and gas exports.

Wednesday saw 70 confirmed crossings, per Kpler’s X post, compared to ~125 in peacetime.

Experts caution against premature optimism, noting ongoing Iran-US negotiations.

“The spike in Hormuz traffic reflects a ceasefire-driven surge, not stability,” Lloyd’s List editor Richard Meade warned.

“This is a temporary rush—Hormuz remains perilous. A return to normalcy depends on a durable post-ceasefire agreement,” he added.

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