Three Saudi oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after leaders pledged to reopen the strategic waterway under an agreement aimed at ending the US-Iran war, according to maritime tracking data.
Shipping activity through the vital trade route, which had remained largely disrupted during more than three months of conflict, showed signs of a gradual recovery. However, industry groups cautioned that arrangements for fully restoring normal traffic remain unclear.
Maritime analytics firm Kpler reported that eight commodity-carrying vessels had transited the strait by 1430 GMT on Thursday, roughly matching the average daily volume recorded over the previous week.
The vessels included three Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), each carrying around two million barrels of Saudi oil, the firm said.
Despite the increase, traffic remained far below pre-war levels. According to shipping publication Lloyd’s List, around 120 vessels crossed the strait daily before the conflict.
The liquefied natural gas carrier Mraikh also passed through the strait. It became the first French LNG vessel to complete the transit since the Iran conflict began on 28 February.
The vessel started its journey on Wednesday, around the time US President Donald Trump announced he had signed a memorandum of understanding under which Iran agreed to reopen the strait immediately.
Kpler said only 15 LNG carriers have departed the Gulf with cargo since the conflict began, including Mraikh. All were transporting LNG from Qatar or the United Arab Emirates.
Despite the agreement between Washington and Tehran, shipping industry representatives warned that serious risks remain.
Jakob Larsen, chief security officer of global shipping association BIMCO, said significant safety and security concerns continue to affect navigation in the area.
He noted that the central section of the Strait of Hormuz remains mined and cannot currently support normal vessel movement.
Larsen also said the agreement provides no clear details on how vessels stranded in the Gulf will be assisted. However, he expects an international coordination body to be formed soon to help facilitate safe transits.
According to the International Maritime Organization, more than 500 commercial vessels remain stranded in the Gulf, with around 11,000 seafarers on board. The organisation said the conflict has affected about 20,000 seafarers across the region.
