Fewer ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the first day after the United States reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports, as both countries stepped up attacks across the Persian Gulf, shipping data showed.
According to data from the company Kpler, seven ships passed through the strait on Wednesday, mostly using the Iranian route, compared to 13 ships the previous day, Reuters reports.
The clashes intensified after Iran announced late Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Military operations have prevented ships from using the waterway, which before the war carried about a fifth of the world's oil and gas shipments.
Four empty ships entered the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, including three small oil tankers and a bulk carrier intended to transport grain, data showed.
The three ships that left the strait on Wednesday were carrying liquefied petroleum gas, coal and fuel oil.
On Tuesday, a Suezmax-class tanker carrying one million barrels of Saudi crude oil passed through the strait with its transponder off, according to Kpler.
No VLCC (very large crude oil carrier) or liquefied natural gas tankers passed through the strait on Wednesday.
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