Key updates<\/p>\n
Maritime activity across the Gulf remains active but constrained, with over 600 foreign-flagged vessels operating under shifting routing and behavioral patterns.
\nIran continues to enforce a controlled transit model through Hormuz, enabling selective passage via IRGC-managed corridors based on cargo type and destination.
\nDark activity and identity manipulation remain persistent, including the transit of a zombie LNG carrier using a recycled vessel identity.
\nIranian crude exports remain elevated, with 161 million barrels on the water under a temporary sanctions waiver, primarily bound for China.
\nRussian oil volumes remain high despite infrastructure disruptions at Baltic export terminals, introducing forward supply risk.
\nSaudi Arabia is accelerating Red Sea exports via Yanbu to offset Gulf constraints and reduce reliance on Hormuz transit.
\nLNG, LPG, and container flows remain below seasonal norms, indicating sustained pressure on both energy distribution and global trade lanes.
\nPort operations show continued volatility, with increased rerouting, delays, and destination changes across key hubs.
\nMaritime security risk remains elevated, with vessel targeting and infrastructure disruption continuing across multiple regions.<\/p>\n
Controlled transit through the Strait of Hormuz\u00a0<\/p>\n
Iran continues to enforce\u00a0selective control\u00a0over transit through the Strait of Hormuz,<\/a> enabling vessel movement through\u00a0IRGC-controlled corridors within its territorial waters.<\/p>\n Over the past\u00a0three days, multiple vessels have transited using this alternative routing, including\u00a0LPG carriers, bulk carriers transporting agricultural cargo, and vessels linked to\u00a0energy flows toward China and regional actors.<\/p>\n A 26-year-old,\u00a0falsely flagged\u00a0LNG carrier\u00a0was identified as a\u00a0zombie vessel\u00a0that\u00a0transited the Strait on March 20\u00a0before switching off its AIS. The vessel had previously been listed as\u00a0\u201cbroken up\u201d\u00a0in the\u00a0Equasis database, indicating identity reuse and\u00a0deceptive shipping practices. Its first signal in the region appeared on\u00a0March 13\u00a0at\u00a0Hamriyah anchorage\u00a0in the UAE, despite records showing it had been sent to\u00a0Alang for shipbreaking in October.<\/p>\n The U.S.-sanctioned tanker\u00a0North Star\u00a0(IMO 9299563) transited the Strait on\u00a0March 20, sailing toward Asia after\u00a0receiving coverage under a temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian cargoes already in transit. The vessel was\u00a0sanctioned less than a month prior, and its successful passage highlights how recent regulatory adjustments are enabling specific sanctioned cargoes to move despite broader restrictions.<\/p>\n On\u00a0March 22, a\u00a0small containership signaling \u201call crew China\u201d transited the corridor, alongside the\u00a0LPG carrier\u00a0Meda\u00a0(IMO 8818219), which regularly calls at the Houthi-controlled port.<\/p>\n Meanwhile,\u00a0two LPG carriers\u00a0were observed transiting in coordinated movement on\u00a0March 23\u00a0while\u00a0signaling crew nationality,\u00a0suggesting\u00a0deliberate identification aligned with approved passage conditions.<\/p>\n Three bulk carriers also moved through the corridor, including one westbound vessel\u00a0signaling \u201ccargo food for Iran,\u201d\u00a0indicating that agricultural supply flows into\u00a0Imam Khomeini port\u00a0are being maintained under controlled conditions.<\/p>\n Select energy commodities for Pakistan, along with crude flows to China and Houthi-linked destinations in Yemen, are also receiving transit authorization. Together, these movements illustrate a structured transit environment in which access is granted based on cargo type, destination, and geopolitical alignment, rather than open commercial navigation.<\/p>\n \u2026Windward highlights.\u00a0<\/p>\n LNG, LPG and container activity<\/p>\n Gas and container flows continue to reflect the depth of disruption<\/a> across both energy distribution and global trade lanes.<\/p>\n Currently, 11 LNG tankers are transmitting AIS in the Gulf, representing a 17.2% decline compared to the 7-day average.\u00a0 LPG exports have dropped\u00a0to approximately\u00a0240,000 barrels per day, just\u00a010% of the seasonal average\u00a0of 1.2 million barrels per day.<\/p>\n
![\"Windward:](\"https:\/\/safety4sea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/container-vessels-strait-windward.avif\")
<\/a>Container vessels in the Middle East Gulf, March 22, 2026. Source: Windward Maritime AI\u2122 Platform.<\/p>\n![\"Windward:](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/transit-activity-windward.png\")
<\/a>Credit: Windward<\/p>\n