A.P. Moller-Maersk has successfully transited two additional vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and out of the Persian Gulf, completing the movements without incident during a period of elevated maritime security risk in the region.
According to Ship & Bunker, the transits were completed late Wednesday and early Thursday and were carried out in coordination with the company’s security partners. One of the vessels involved was a Maersk-owned ship, the Maersk Baltimore, while the other was a time-chartered vessel.
Three Vessels Still in the Gulf
Following the latest departures, Maersk confirmed that three of its vessels remain in the Persian Gulf. The company also indicated that at least one additional transit through the Strait of Hormuz is planned for a later stage.
“With the departure of Maersk Baltimore and the time-charter vessel, we currently have three remaining vessels in the Gulf; and at a later stage, we will pursue one additional transit through the Strait of Hormuz,” Maersk stated in an advisory cited by Ship & Bunker.
Broader Security Picture
The news comes against a backdrop of deteriorating security conditions in the area. Ship & Bunker also reports that a vessel was attacked off Oman on Thursday, prompting the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to temporarily suspend its evacuation plan in the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, according to AIS tracking data referenced by Ship & Bunker on Friday, vessel traffic through the strait appeared notably reduced, with only a small number of ships transiting and some routing closer to the Iranian coast.
Does This Matter to You?
The situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz continues to develop rapidly, and the combination of active vessel attacks, altered routing patterns, and suspended IMO coordination efforts signals a fluid and potentially volatile operating environment. Any disruption to traffic through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints has direct implications for shipping schedules, cargo availability, fuel supply chains, and port call planning across the broader region — including key bunkering hubs such as Fujairah.
The elevated risk environment may also influence decisions around vessel deployment, war risk insurance, and transit timing for those with commercial interests in the Gulf or dependent on fuel or cargo flows passing through the strait.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
