According to a report by the Financial Times website on the 22nd, more than 400 vessels are anchored in the outer waters on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, awaiting a full reopening of this key energy shipping route after negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Due to the ceasefire arrangements and related security mechanisms not being fully implemented, the global shipping industry remains cautious about the prospects for the full resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Data from European Space Agency satellites show that on the afternoon of the 21st, about 441 large oil-tanker-class vessels were gathered in the waters near Sohar Port in Oman and Fujairah Port in the UAE, waiting for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.
The report said this figure is significantly higher than normal, but down by 42 compared to five days ago.
After Iran and the United States previously announced a memorandum of understanding, some shipping companies temporarily resumed operations as tensions eased. However, after Israel launched an attack on Lebanon, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz again.
On the 21st local time, US and Iranian delegations held talks at Mount Pilatus in Switzerland. At present, the two sides are continuing technical consultations.
The report noted that although a final agreement has not yet been reached, confidence among some shipowners has already begun to recover. On the morning of the 22nd, a total of four Qatari liquefied natural gas carriers passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the highest single-day number since the US-Israel-Iran conflict flared up at the end of February. In addition, after the US agreed to lift the maritime blockade on Iran, Iranian oil tankers have been sailing in and out of the Gulf more smoothly.