Double Blockade Keeps Hormuz Shipping at Fraction of Peace Level

By Julian Lee and Prejula Prem (Bloomberg) — Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that’s become a focal point for the global economy, stayed far below peacetime levels as an effective double blockade stifles vessel movements.

The number of commercial ships observed sailing through the strait stood at 11 on Tuesday, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. It averaged 16 a day over the weekend. Ships can switch off their digital transponders to hide their movements in danger zones, and the Wall Street Journal cited two US officials as saying more than 20 went through on Tuesday.