Sky’s Data and Forensics team is monitoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway for Iran and other oil producers in the Middle East.
Maritime activity has been almost suspended as the US and Iran have traded strikes.
Hundreds of tankers normally travel through the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman at all times, with Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. It is the only marine outlet for major oil producers in the region, including Iran.
In 2024, one-fifth of all global oil will flow through the narrow waterway – the equivalent of 20 million barrels per day.
Oil tanker positions worldwide as of 1 March 2026. Source: Kpler/Marine Traffic
A snapshot from a month ago on February 1 shows how busy the waterway is with ships passing in and out of it.
Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on 1 February 2026. Source: Kpler/Marine Traffic
On February 28, the day after the US and Israel conducted their first strikes on Iran, very few ships were in the area and little movement. By March 1, very few ships were in the strait and ships appeared clustered around the large harbors on both sides of the strait.
Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on 1 March 2026
Sky’s Data and Forensic Team tracked several individual tankers. One – the KHK Empress – was already in the strait before turning back around 10:00 AM UTC on Saturday. By Saturday evening, the other four had returned from the strait and returned to the Gulf. And by Sunday, they were all leaving the area.
Analyst firm Kpler estimates that these five vessels have the capacity to carry around 10 million barrels of oil.
Sky News tracked five oil tankers sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz on 1 March 2026. Source: Kpler/Marine Traffic
The fear of being targeted en route is not unfounded. On March 1, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, The Skylight, was attacked. Four people were injured and the entire crew of 20 was evacuated.
The US Navy is warning against navigation through the strait and some merchants are suspending transit.
Interference with the ship’s tracking and communication system, AIS, makes the area even more dangerous. The images below show the AIS signals used to broadcast their locations on February 27th compared to February 28th.
The latter image shows distorted signals, with ships broadcasting locations far from their true positions, or even on land.
AIS signals from ships in the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted by interference. Source: Kpler/Marine Traffic
Volatility in the Gulf has implications around the world. A disruption here disrupts global markets and international trade.
