The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO, for its acronym in English) has reported that, between Friday and Sunday, the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has remained in single-digit figures, well below the daily average of over 30 vessels calculated by the United States for the same maritime corridor.
In its latest situation report, the agency dependent on the British Navy details that "independent tracking data indicated limited activity, with single-digit figures in transits in both directions, while data from the United States Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS, for its acronym in English) has indicated traffic flows averaging over 30 daily vessel transits over the last 72 hours."
During that time interval, the UKMTO has recorded three attacks in the area and emphasizes the continuity of "attacks, attempted attacks, and/or harassment activities by the forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard," among which it mentions drone flights over merchant vessels, specific observation tasks, and sporadic radio contacts.
According to the center, "these actions continue to demonstrate Iran's intention to assert its presence along key transit routes and to maintain pressure on vessels transiting the area," which is why it maintains a threat level classified as severe in the Strait of Hormuz.
The report expands its analysis to other strategic points, such as the Bab el Mandeb Strait, off the coast of Yemen, where the UKMTO indicates that "Houthi forces maintain control of the coast and islands of Yemen that dominate the eastern accesses and both channels" of the maritime passage "following territorial gains made between September 10 and 12," referring to the rebel advance towards the southwestern Yemeni coastline.
The note concludes that "commercial traffic remains at reduced levels following the embargo declaration of July 20 and those territorial gains," thus describing a scenario of still limited merchant activity in this key enclave for international trade.