Updates for today.......including more activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a warning of escalation, huddling ships...and a hefty ransom demand
Once again the last 24 hours has shown a number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz without any reported incidents. These ships included a very large pipe laying ship, Sapura 1200. As the case over the last few days, no ships have used the Iranian route that would take them north of Larak Island and the toll booth.
The images below, the Strait as it is currently and the Sapura 1200 (which on the map image is the large turquiose arrow)
All Persian Gulf anchorages are very busy.
The Al Basrah anchorage, image below, has a large number of tankers and support ships surrounding an oil platform (marked as a blue spot) called Pandan 4504. Most of the ships in this group are awaiting orders to reload in either Umm Qasr, Khor al Zubair (Iraq) or Mubarak Al Khabeer on Bubiyan Island (Kuwait)
The Kuwaitis have reported the capturing of 4 Iranians on Bubiyan Island
Kuwait Detains Four IRGC Officers in a Boat off Bubiyan Island (Maritime Executive - May 13, 2026)
Anchorages off Al Khafji, As Saffaniyah, Al Jubayl, Ra's Tannurah and Dammam (Saudi Arabia) and Manama, Amwaj Islands and Eudaiya (Bahrain) and Ras Laffan, Doha and Lusail (Qatar) are still heavily congested with both pleasure craft (dark pink) and tugs, rig support and other such specialised ships (turquiose) along with bulkers, containerships and tankers (green / red)
The highest proportion of tankers, containerships, car carriers etc are still in the Mina Qasr, Umm A Quwain, Ras al Khaimah, Al Hamriya, SharjahJebel Ali and Dubai anchorages. Overnights they are closely anchored, only spreading out during daylight hours
On the Gulf of Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz, things are looking less congested. Ships appear to be taking on their respective cargoes at Khor Fakkan, Dibba, Fujairah and Sohar before leaving the area. The anchorages are still busy but the numbers of ships waiting does seem to be decreasing.
A report yesterday from Maritime Executive describes the situation as being very difficult for both the US and Iran, the ceasefire being on a knife edge, life support and other equally pessimistic terminology. Again makes for an interesting read from the "outside" perspective
Is War in the Gulf About to Break Out Again?
The current ceasefire between Iran and the United States was indefinitely extended in April, but to facilitate negotiations that appear to be at an end. President Trump has himself described the ceasefire now as being on life support, while reports are coming from the region that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have been quietly participating in staging attacks against Iran.
.........The United States’ negotiating position has been more flexible, much to the chagrin of Israel and some of the Gulf States. But in the face of Iranian intransigence and a failure to recognize the damage done to their country, the United States will now find it very difficult to take forward negotiations with a realistic chance of salvaging something which can be described as a victory.
Nonetheless, an initiative to resume the war before the formal end of the ceasefire, as far as the United States is concerned, seems unlikely. The negotiations are in great difficulty, but breaking the ceasefire before it expires without announcing an intent to do so in advance would be regarded internally within Iran as a ‘bad faith’ bar to a resumption of negotiations for years to come. And at some point, the United States would want to resume negotiations.
I mentioned a hefty ransom.....the pirates have issued a demand for $10m to release a small products tanker, the UAE owned Eureka, that was taken by them on May 2. The families of those trapped onboard are understandably fearful that should a rescue attempt be launched, it would end badly due to the cargo of diesel - some 2800 tons of diesel - onboard. A second tanker captured by pirates on April 21 is in a similar situation, the Honour 25. The imminent arrival of both NATO and non-NATO ships into the area has heightened tensions with the pirates and the seafarers families. There are said to be several other ships and dhows under the command of the pirates in and around the Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandab area. The NATO / non NATO task force has to pass through in order to reach the Strait of Hormuz to carry out their work once hostilities end tween US / Israel and Iran. The Bab-el-Mandab is, however, flowing freely and without any more recent reports of incidents
Another aspect to the Iranian port blockades is the increased use of ship to ship transfers of Iranian oil and oil products off Malaysia. US based advocacy group, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), have been monitoring the area around Johor and have recorded 42 ship to ship transfers of Iranian oil tween shadow fleet tankers. More information :
Malaysia says Iranian oil transfers near its waters exploit a maritime loophole (Manila Bulletin - May 14, 2026)
Finally, there are no new updates in respect to the condition of the crewmen injured aboard CMA CGM San Antonio othe ship herself. We can only hope that there will be news soon, especially for the families who are waiting at home who will be, undoubtably, very worried.
Further updates tomorrow morning......