Американский надзор над морским движением усиливается в проливе Хормуз на фоне продолжающейся напряжённости

U.S. Central Command reported that about 1,000 commercial ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz over the last two months, roughly 17 vessels per day. Although this volume remains far below the pre‑conflict average of more than 100 ships daily, it exceeds figures previously published by U.S. Navy and maritime data sources.

The count includes large cargo and container ships, some of which have disabled their Automatic Identification Systems or used alternative routes along Oman’s coast to avoid the lane controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC has imposed tolls on permitted vessels and attacked ships attempting unauthorized crossings.

To maintain freedom of navigation, the U.S. Navy conducted mine‑clearing operations in April, dispatched destroyers through the strait, and launched Project Freedom last month to assist additional vessels, though the project was short‑lived. Over a recent three‑week period, U.S. forces provided guidance to about 70 ships entering and leaving the Persian Gulf, according to sources cited by the New York Times. Central Command emphasizes that it offers advisory support rather than direct escort, using radar, drones and other tools to monitor traffic and advise on AIS usage and threat response.

The region has seen continued hostilities, including IRGC attacks, attempts to lay new underwater mines, and U.S. strikes on Iranian boats, missile sites and drone launch platforms. Central Command stated that Iranian attack drones posed an immediate threat to maritime traffic and that U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites in response.

Lloyd’s List noted that nearly 40 non‑Iranian‑linked vessels have left the Gulf in the past three weeks, bringing the total number of departures since March to 142, attributing the trend to “quiet U.S. naval overwatch” and increased willingness among ship operators to resume voyages despite risks.

Analysts suggest that sustained traffic through both U.S.‑and IRGC‑controlled routes could establish a new operating norm for the chokepoint, even as the broader strategic balance remains unsettled.