Dozens of oil tankers continue transits through Strait of Hormuz as traffic route shifts near Oman

Dozens of oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday even after Iran issued threats linked to the broader Iran-U.S. and regional security situation, according to shipping and analytics tracking.

Reporting on Thursday’s movement said confirmed strait crossings totaled 70, a jump of 105 percent compared with the prior day, with the increase reflecting a higher volume of vessels choosing to cross during the same 24-hour window. The figures were attributed to Kpler, an industry data and analytics firm that monitors ship movements and trade flows.

The transits also reflected routing promoted by a United Nations maritime agency, which pointed vessels to an alternative path along the coast of Oman rather than relying on the most direct corridor through the strait. The Hill reported that vessels followed this coastal route as they approached and departed areas tied to the waterway’s congestion and risk patterns.

The breakdown of traffic included commercial shipping, with the report saying commercial vessels accounted for the bulk of the crossings. Tankers and other merchant vessels are the primary users of the narrow chokepoint, which carries a significant share of global seaborne oil trade.

The move by some commercial operators to continue crossings comes amid continued Iranian rhetoric and warnings, which have periodically raised concerns about maritime safety and insurance costs for shipping in the area. In this instance, however, the shipping data cited in the report suggested that the threat environment did not prevent day-of crossings from rising sharply.

The reported concentration of crossings on Thursday provides a snapshot of how shipping behavior can respond to maritime advisories and route guidance. It also highlights that, even during periods of heightened tension, commercial traffic may keep moving when vessels and operators assess that available routing options reduce exposure and risk.