A Panama-flagged oil tanker, MT EL GAIA (IMO 9325336, 47,999 DWT), was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on September 13, causing fire, drift and an oil spill at 26-26.50N, 056-30.10E near Jazirat Musandam [1]. Indian authorities reported 13 of 14 crew rescued, 1 seafarer still missing [1]. Iranian authorities separately reported a merchant vessel struck off Hengam and Qeshm islands around 0500 local time, with 1 killed and 3-4 wounded; it is unclear whether this is the same vessel or a separate attack [1].

AIS data from ShipFinder records only 20 transits through Hormuz on Sep 13 (11 inbound, 9 outbound) — far below the pre-conflict baseline of ~85/day [2]. Just two crude tankers were observed: Turkish-operated Suezmax OTTOMAN COURTESY (152,544 DWT) outbound and VIAN (12,866 DWT) inbound [2]. Most traffic was small cargo and container vessels. Gulf tanker counts remain compressed.

Freight rates hit records: Vancouver-China Aframax charter hit USD 7.5 million and VLCC Gulf of Oman-China reached Worldscale 450 (~USD 11.50/bbl), both highest since the assessment series began in February 2026 [1]. The Saudi East-West pipeline remains shut after drone attacks, narrowing the bypass option [1].

Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed that planned Hormuz corridor talks between Persian Gulf coastal states were postponed at the request of some regional countries, with no new date set [1]. The insurance-based effective closure persists and oil passage through Hormuz remains unconfirmed [2][3].

Conflicting evidence: the 20 transits on Sep 13 show movement is not zero, but the overwhelming majority are not crude tankers and the insurance environment still prevents routine commercial transit.