Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Falls 90%; Nearly 900 Vessels Stranded In Gulf | See Images

Last Updated:May 01, 2026, 16:59 IST

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged over 90 percent after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, leaving hundreds of vessels and 20000 seafarers stranded amid rising risks.

Shipping activity through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has plunged by more than 90 per cent amid escalating conflict in West Asia, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions across the region, maritime security officials have said.

According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a Royal Navy-backed maritime monitoring body, over 40 security-related incidents were recorded between March 1 and April 27, including attacks, vessel damage, harassment and near-misses involving merchant ships operating in and around the Gulf region.

In a statement released on Friday, UKMTO said at least 26 of those incidents involved direct attacks on commercial vessels. Several ships reportedly suffered collateral damage from intercepted drones and missile fragments, while others were forced to change course or turn back due to security threats.

Before the escalation began on February 28 — triggered after US and Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — nearly 130 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily. Since then, maritime traffic has dropped to fewer than 10 ships a day, effectively bringing one of the world’s busiest energy transit corridors to a near halt.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most crucial global shipping lanes for oil and gas exports, and the disruption has raised concerns over international trade flows and energy supply chains amid the deepening standoff between Washington and Tehran.

UKMTO officials also warned that between 850 and 870 large merchant vessels are currently stranded inside the Gulf, unable to safely leave due to heightened risks in the narrow waterway.

“Our first concern is the safety and security of seafarers. There are around 20,000 sailors on ships going nowhere. Crew changes are not happening, and supplies are becoming strained," Commander Jo Black, Head of Operations at UKMTO, said in the statement.

He also cautioned that prolonged uncertainty and confinement at sea could begin affecting the mental health and well-being of crew members if the crisis continues.

Established after the September 11 attacks and supported by the Royal Navy, UKMTO serves as a key maritime security coordination centre for vessels operating in the Red Sea, Gulf region and northern Indian Ocean. The organisation uses AIS tracking systems, ship reports and open-source intelligence to monitor threats and provide real-time advisories to commercial shipping.

Officials further warned that continued instability in the region could disrupt global trade routes beyond the Gulf and potentially trigger a resurgence of piracy near the Somali coast.

UKMTO said it remains on high alert and continues issuing security warnings to merchant vessels amid what it described as one of the most volatile periods for international shipping in recent years.

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