- AXSMarine observed 25 verified commercial vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, 2026, the highest single-day count since April 18 and more than five times the average daily level recorded during the first ten days of June.
- The spike in crossings came after Iran and the United States agreed to reopen the crucial route under an agreement to end the war.
- The spike in crossings occurred amid the largest AIS signal disruption event observed in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began, affecting more than 200 commercial vessels.
- Jakob Larsen, chief security officer at leading shipping lobby BIMCO, stated that the body expects an international coordination body to be established shortly to facilitate transits.
On June 18, 2026, AXSMarine reported a remarkable spike in maritime activity through the Strait of Hormuz, with 25 commercial vessels crossing the strait, marking the highest single-day count since mid-April.1
This increase is attributed to a recent agreement between Iran and the United States aimed at reopening this vital shipping route, which had been heavily impacted by ongoing conflicts.2
Before the war, approximately 120 vessels traversed the strait daily, according to Lloyd's List, but crossings had dwindled to an average of just 7.6 per day since early March.
The June 18 spike occurred amid significant disruptions in Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals, with AXSMarine noting it as the largest such event observed since the conflict began, affecting over 200 commercial vessels simultaneously.3
Jakob Larsen, chief security officer at BIMCO, expressed optimism, stating that an international coordination body is expected to be established soon to facilitate safe transits through the strait.4
Despite the recent uptick in crossings, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that more than 500 commercial vessels remain stranded in the Gulf, with around 11,000 seafarers on board, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the region's maritime operations.
“On June 18, 2026, AXSMarine reported a spike in ship crossings through the Strait of Hormuz, with 25 vessels crossing. This increase followed an agreement between Iran and the United States to reopen the route amid significant AIS signal disruptions affecting over 200 vessels.”
