The Strait of Hormuz may be showing its first signs of operational stabilisation after nearly three months of heightened tensions, following the coordinated outbound transit of three VLCCs through the strategic waterway on Wednesday.
According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, the movements represent the clearest indication so far that some form of organised passage system could be re-emerging across the critical oil corridor.
Two Chinese-controlled VLCCs reportedly crossed the strait together in a tightly coordinated formation, maintaining a distance of roughly 5 to 10 kilometres while openly transmitting AIS signals throughout the transit. The vessels were carrying Iraqi and Qatari crude cargoes bound for the Chinese ports of Quanzhou and Ningbo.
A third vessel, a South Korean-flagged VLCC transporting Kuwaiti crude toward Ulsan and Onsan, completed its transit during the same timeframe, although it sailed independently from the Chinese pair and reportedly kept its AIS switched off.
Windward described the openly coordinated Chinese transit as particularly significant. The company suggested that the decision to keep AIS signals active while crossing the strait may point to an informal operational understanding between Washington and Beijing, especially regarding Chinese-controlled shipments carrying Iraqi and Qatari crude.
Shipbroker Fearnleys also confirmed the movements and noted that another tanker, Eastmed’s Grand Lady, was believed to be entering the Gulf to load cargo.
Fearnleys added that growing speculation around a possible diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran may also be contributing to cautious optimism across shipping markets.
At the same time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy claimed that 26 commercial vessels, including tankers and containerships, transited the strait over the previous 24 hours under coordination with Iranian authorities.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran is working with Oman to establish a long-term security mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz and is prepared to develop safe shipping protocols with neighbouring coastal states.
Iran’s self-declared Persian Gulf Strait Authority also published what appears to be its clearest definition yet of the maritime zone it claims to supervise, outlining an area stretching from Kuh Mobarak in Iran to southern Fujairah in the UAE in the east, and from Qeshm Island to Umm al-Qaiwain in the west.
The authority stated that vessels crossing the area would require coordination and permits to transit the strait.
Meanwhile, military enforcement operations remain active. United States Central Command said US marines boarded the Iranian-flagged tanker Celestial Sea in the Gulf of Oman after suspecting the vessel of attempting to breach the US blockade toward Iranian ports. The tanker was later released after being instructed to change course.
US officials claim that more than 90 commercial ships operating near Iranian ports have already been redirected as part of the ongoing enforcement campaign.
Despite the latest transit activity, major shipping organisations continue to warn that conditions inside Hormuz remain highly volatile.
Industry groups including BIMCO, INTERTANKO, OCIMF and International Chamber of Shipping released updated joint guidance highlighting continued risks across the corridor.
The advisory warned shipowners about threats including GPS jamming, AIS spoofing, drones, sea mines, unmanned surface attacks and the possibility of severe congestion if delayed vessels rush to transit simultaneously.
Operators were also advised to disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and location services on personal devices amid fears that connected electronics could expose vessel positioning data.
Although the latest coordinated sailings have sparked cautious hope across maritime markets, many shipowners and insurers remain wary of any system requiring direct coordination with Iranian-linked authorities due to potential legal and sanctions-related exposure.
