First Non-Iranian Oil Tanker Crosses Strait of Hormuz Since Ceasefire

A non-Iranian oil tanker transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday for the first time since the announcement of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, according to maritime tracking data.

Data from MarineTraffic showed that the tanker MSG, sailing under the flag of Gabon, crossed the strategic waterway carrying 6,941 tonnes of fuel oil from the United Arab Emirates and bound for India.

The passage marks a tentative sign of movement in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, through which roughly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass.

Despite the crossing, maritime traffic in the region has yet to fully normalize following the ceasefire. Since the truce took effect, only a handful of vessels have transited the strait, including two Iranian oil tankers and six cargo ships, according to data from Kpler, which owns MarineTraffic.

On Thursday, around 12 vessels, including one oil tanker, were observed en route to pass through the waterway, suggesting that overall traffic levels remain broadly unchanged compared with the week preceding the ceasefire.

Before the conflict, the strait saw roughly 120 daily transits, according to shipping analytics firm Lloyd’s List.

Analysts at Kpler expect flows to remain constrained, potentially limited to 10–15 daily transits if the ceasefire holds, reflecting lingering security concerns among shipping operators.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical artery for global energy supplies, and any disruption quickly feeds into oil price volatility. Recent tensions had already prompted Tehran to impose stricter controls on navigation following escalation in regional hostilities earlier this year.