Institutional reports show a sharp drop in ships using the Oman‑coast transit of
the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday as Iran continues to reinforce control of the
waterway. Multiple vessels suddenly turned back while exiting the strait on
Saturday and Sunday. A products tanker that turned back on Saturday appears to
have re‑attempted the transit and has passed the northern tip of Oman's Musandam
peninsula; an earlier products tanker on the same route broadcasted its sailing
intent and is now broadcasting positions in the Gulf of Oman. Some vessels are
opting for dark transits. A Suezmax crude tanker last broadcast in the Persian
Gulf on Saturday and was recorded in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday. At least eight
ships turned back on the Oman route on Friday and Saturday; four of those then
altered course north to exit via the Iran‑side channel. There has been no
official explanation for the turnbacks; Iran has previously said ships must use
Iran‑designated, authorized channels through the strait. Kpler data show 19
bidirectional transits of the Strait on Saturday, but only one vessel publicly
indicated it would enter via the Oman‑coast route; Friday traffic via that route
was 13 vessels. These statistics cover only observable vessel movements.
