Hormuz ship crossings spike after U.S.-Iran deal to end war, says marine tracker

Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reached a post-conflict peak on June 18, 2026, following a diplomatic agreement between Iran and the United States to reopen the vital waterway. Data from maritime tracking firm AXSMarine recorded 25 crossings in a single day, a significant increase from the low averages seen since the conflict began in late February. This development is a critical step for the global energy market, as the strait typically handles one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports.

Data from maritime tracking firm AXSMarine indicates that 25 commercial vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, 2026, marking the highest traffic volume since mid-April. This spike occurred after Iran and the United States reached an agreement to end the war and reopen the trade artery, which had been effectively closed by Iranian forces since February 28 following U.S. and Israeli strikes. Prior to the conflict, the strait saw an average of 120 vessels per day according to Lloyd’s List, handling approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports.

The recent increase in activity is complicated by severe technical interference, with AXSMarine reporting the largest AIS signal disruption event in the Persian Gulf since the war began. More than 200 commercial vessels were simultaneously impacted by spoofing or abnormal AIS behavior, a tactic often used by ships to avoid detection in high-risk zones. Shipping industry groups have warned that safety remains a major concern, noting that official plans for the full resumption of traffic are still unclear, making it difficult for many operators to justify exiting the Gulf through the strait at this time.

To address these security and logistical hurdles, international bodies are working toward a structured transit framework. Jakob Larsen, chief security officer at the shipping lobby BIMCO, noted that an international coordination body is expected to be established soon to facilitate safe passage. This is a critical development for the more than 500 commercial vessels and 11,000 seafarers currently stranded in the Gulf due to the conflict. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is developing its own safe-transit plan, the war has affected a total of 20,000 seafarers in the region.