Strait of Hormuz Traffic Falls to 8 Vessels on May 16, Lowest in 3 Weeks

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to its lowest level in three weeks on May 16, with only 8 ships passing through the waterway compared to 15 the previous day, according to data from MarineTraffic, a civilian maritime tracking platform. The sharp decline reflects ongoing security concerns, crew safety risks, and rising insurance costs stemming from the US-Iran conflict. Before the war, an average of 125 vessels transited the strait daily.

Vessel Count Drops to 8 on May 16

On May 16, only 8 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, down from 15 on May 15, according to MarineTraffic data reported by Yonhap Infomax. This represents approximately a 50% reduction in a single day. The pre-war daily average stood at 125 vessels.

Seven of Eight Ships Choose Iran Route Over Oman Passage

Of the 8 transits recorded on May 16, seven vessels used the northern route through Iranian waters, while zero ships opted for the southern passage via Oman. MarineTraffic noted that "overall transits were split evenly between commercial and non-commercial vessels, and half of all transits involved Iranian-flagged ships."

The platform added that "shipping companies still operating are increasingly shifting toward the Iran route as security concerns, crew safety risks, and rising insurance costs continue to suppress broader participation in operations."

MarineTraffic Declares Ceasefire Effectively Collapsed

MarineTraffic characterized the US-Iran ceasefire as effectively collapsed. The platform stated, "Transit through the Strait of Hormuz is now increasingly restricted to vessels willing to use the Iran route or accept direct enforcement risks, and diplomacy is no longer functioning as a reliable stabilizer."

FAQ

How many vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on May 16?
Eight vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on May 16, down from 15 the previous day, according to MarineTraffic data.

Which route did most ships use on May 16?
Seven of the eight vessels used the northern route through Iranian waters, while no ships used the southern Oman passage.

What was the daily average vessel count before the US-Iran war?
Before the conflict, an average of 125 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day.