Over 150 Tankers Anchor Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Regional Escalation

At least 150 tankers, including vessels carrying oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), have halted in the open waters of the Persian Gulf outside the Strait of Hormuz. This is evidenced by ship-tracking data published on Sunday following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The vessels are concentrated off the coasts of the region's largest oil producers — Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. A significant portion of the tankers is located within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

According to MarineTraffic, dozens of cargo ships have also stopped in various areas of the Gulf.

Approximately 20% of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, including supplies from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran, as well as significant volumes of LNG from Qatar.

In addition, about 100 more tankers are at anchorages along the coasts of the UAE and Oman.

According to sources in trade circles, several shipowners and energy companies have temporarily suspended the transport of oil, fuel, and LNG through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has announced the closure of navigation.

However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the US Navy-led Combined Maritime Information Center reported that no official international notification regarding a formal closure of the strait has been received.

Mariners have been warned of a possible increase in military presence in the region, radio communication checks, vessel congestion at anchorages, and rising insurance risks.