Strait of Hormuz Transits Steady

09 April 2026 Windward 

Inbound traffic on April 7 comprised four sanctioned, Iranian-trading tankers only, reflecting uncertainty entering the Gulf amid U.S. threats to escalate attacks on Iran ahead of the eventual ceasefire announcement.

Four of the outbound vessels were bulk carriers, a regular feature of limited transits with all previously calling at Iran.

All vessels used the Northern Corridor, in place since mid-March that redirects traffic through Iranian waters and hugs the coastline instead of using the normal international channel.

A southern corridor which hugs Oman’s coastline that was used by several ships last week has not seen any further visible traffic via AIS.

The 11 vessels that transited April 7 all took the IRGC-controlled corridor

CEASEFIRE DECLARED — STRAIT REMAINS EFFECTIVELY CLOSED

Hormuz traffic is unchanged in risk profile and numbers transiting since the ceasefire announcement. Five bulk carriers were tracked outbound as of 12:00 on April 8, and all appeared to be confined to the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps-controlled corridor. Coordination with Iranian armed forces is still required for all transits. Iran has confirmed this operates “within technical limitations” without specifying what those are but all signs are that the Islamic Republic is seeking to retain its leverage over the waterway during ceasefire negotiations.

Transit conditions, toll arrangements, and the legal framework for passage remain undefined. The strait has not reopened — it is in a supervised pause.

Iran will demand shipping companies pay tolls, Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union told the Financial Times.

Fees would be paid in cryptocurrency with tariff of $1 for each barrel of oil with inbound transits at no cost, he said. Iran would require ship inspection and require approval. Radio broadcasts to tankers in the Gulf on Wednesday from Iran warned those transiting without approval would be struck.

At best, a humanitarian corridor similar to the United Nation’s Black Sea grain corridor negotiated with Russia to let grain shipments leave Ukraine can be deployed.

Mixed messages are emerging: Oman has said that it won’t pay any tolls and diplomatic engagement with Iran’s government appears key.

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