Hormuz Stays Blocked for Now as Hundreds of Ships Seek Exit

The Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked on Wednesday, as shipowners try to understand if they can safely transit the vital waterway following a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran that was announced overnight.

Just three ships were observed leaving the region on Wednesday, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Some had links to Iran, and the country’s media subsequently reported that passage for tankers will remain blocked after attacks on Lebanon. In normal times about 135 ships cross daily, and more than 800 freighters are stuck inside the gulf, mostly waiting to leave.