A review of the time-lapse data from an automatic ship identification system on 12 Mordad, corresponding to 3 August, shows that despite the presence of hundreds of vessels in ports, anchorages, and surrounding waters, actual traffic through the main route of the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply. Most of the spots seen on the map are related to ships that are either stopped or moving locally; therefore, the density of vessels should not be taken to mean that commercial ships are continuing to pass through the strait normally.

Among the identified vessels, various types of tankers are present, including crude oil carriers, petroleum products, chemical materials, liquefied gas, and liquefied natural gas. However, many of these tankers are located in anchorages or regional routes, and their presence does not necessarily mean transiting through the strait. The data from the automatic identification system also indicates that ships on the northern route, near the coasts of Iran, are often traceable; but on the southern route, some vessels switch off their signals or disappear from the system’s view. This situation provides a picture of reduced transits, navigation disruption, and a heavy security environment in the Strait of Hormuz.