Fewer ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz today compared to previous days, a few hours after a ship operated by a Taiwanese company was attacked, according to vessel tracking data.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended the operation to evacuate hundreds of ships and thousands of seafarers from the Gulf following the damage sustained by the ship during the attack in the strait off the coast of Oman.

However, at least four tankers, including three very large crude carriers (VLCCs), each capable of carrying up to 2 million barrels of oil, entered the Gulf to load oil, according to data released today by LSEG and MarineTraffic.

Two other supertankers entered the Strait to load Iranian oil, according to other vessel tracking data, while another tanker exited the Strait with 2 million barrels of oil off the coast of Oman, according to an analysis by Kpler.

Oil buyers are hoping to secure supplies after months of disruptions caused by the war in Iran following the ceasefire agreement reached between Washington andCrude oil prices fell more than 3% today and are on track for significant losses on a weekly basis.

Before the conflict broke out, the average daily traffic was 125 ships. Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine said today that a ship under its management was struck near Oman by an “unknown projectile” following statements by U.S. officials to Reuters yesterday that Iran had targeted the ship.

“The attack is a setback to plans to free up ships and resume transit through the Strait of Hormuz, although some shipments are still expected,” said Jakob Larsen, head of security at the shipping association BIMCO.

Tanker traffic, which includes vessels carrying crude oil, petroleum and chemical products, reached 13 transits in both directions today, compared to 24 yesterday and 27 ships on Wednesday, the highest number since the conflict erupted following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, according to an analysis by Kpler.

Source: APE-MPE