Strait of Hormuz shipping blockade update

Here are the latest key facts about security alerts and trade impacts from the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route virtually paralysed by the Middle East war. Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway in peacetime. The war erupted on February 28 when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the region and restrict access to the strait.

An Iranian attack sparked a fire on a Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai Port, Kuwaiti official news agency KUNA reported, citing the state-owned oil company. KUNA said the tanker was fully laden at the time of the attack but no injuries or oil spill were reported. Dubai authorities said firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Security intelligence firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the Al Salmi and said authorities were investigating. Iranian media meanwhile reported that strikes hit a desalination plant on Iran’s Qeshm island in the strait, putting it out of service. China’s foreign ministry said three Chinese ships had transited the strait.

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On Monday, maritime tracker MarineTraffic identified two ultra-large container vessels owned by Chinese shipping giant Cosco that crossed after an aborted attempt last week. It interpreted their passage as “signalling a potential shift in conditions for commercial shipping”. The ministry did not provide details about the third ship. Just four vessels crossed the strait on Monday, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler.

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