Strait of Hormuz Reopens: The Evacuation of Over 11,000 Seafarers and a Harrowing Month for Global Shipping

Introduction: Shipping Thaws in the Persian Gulf and Seafarers’ Long Wait

At the chokepoint of global energy and cargo transport—the Strait of Hormuz—a shipping crisis that has gripped the world is now showing signs of a turning point. As the United States and Iran reached a temporary peace framework agreement and lifted sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical products, Iran officially announced the reopening of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz[1]. This historic agreement has not only given global energy markets a brief sigh of relief, but also set in motion an unprecedented humanitarian operation: more than 11,000 seafarers, stranded in the Persian Gulf for a full month due to the conflict, have finally begun evacuating through the strait[2].

However, the reopening of the strait does not mean shipping risks have been fully eliminated. For international traders and cargo owners reliant on Middle East routes, the supply chain aftershocks left by this “harrowing month,” along with potential security hazards within the strait, remain major challenges that must be managed carefully in the months ahead.

Crisis Recap: Shipping Paralysis and the Supply Chain Domino Effect

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil transport corridor, with roughly one-fifth of global daily oil consumption passing through it. During the conflict, the blockade left large numbers of tankers and cargo vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf, triggering sharp swings in international oil prices and causing far-reaching impacts on global supply chains.

First, a sharp surge in transportation costs. With key routes blocked, many vessels were forced to detour or anchor and wait, increasing fuel consumption and delaying schedules, which in turn drove up overall ocean freight rates. In addition, the spike in the War Risk Premium significantly increased cargo insurance costs for shipments transiting the area.

Second, severe supply chain disruption. Beyond energy shipments being impeded, many consumer goods, industrial raw materials, and semi-finished products that rely on Middle East transshipment also faced delayed deliveries. For manufacturers using a “Just-in-Time” strategy, such unpredictable delays can halt production lines and result in substantial economic losses.

Reopening Status: Traffic Rebounds, but Risks Remain

According to the latest shipping data, since the strait reopened, tanker and cargo vessel traffic has rebounded significantly. As of June 23, 2026, 109 vessels have transited the strait, the highest figure since the conflict began[3]. However, this number has yet to return to pre-war normal levels.

More concerning is that the main channel in the middle of the strait still faces the threat of sea mines. To ensure safety, vessels transiting the strait must currently take a detour route: either sailing close to Iran’s northern territorial waters or diverting to waters south of Oman[4]. This non-standard routing not only increases voyage time, but also places higher demands on crews’ navigational skills and psychological resilience.

Historical Lessons: How Long Until Shipping Returns to Normal?

With the Strait of Hormuz reopening, the question cargo owners care about most is: when will shipping fully return to normal? We can look to quantified data from past major shipping disruption events for reference.

Take the March 2021 Suez Canal “Ever Given” grounding as an example. The incident halted two-way canal traffic for a full six days, blocking about $9.6 billion in goods per day[5]. Although the canal reopened after six days, more than 400 vessels had piled up at both ends, and the knock-on effects of port congestion and schedule chaos lasted weeks or even months. Data shows that total vessel waiting and transit time surged from a normal 1.7 days to more than six days[6].

Now consider the even more far-reaching Red Sea crisis. Since it erupted in late 2023, large numbers of vessels have been forced to detour around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing sailing time by about 30% (roughly 7 to 20 days) and reducing global shipping capacity by about 9%[7][8]. Even after tensions eased, shipping data analysis showed that Suez Canal traffic remained 70% to 90% below normal levels for months[9].

Applying these historical data points to the Strait of Hormuz crisis:

1. Short-term congestion (1–3 weeks): The evacuation of more than 11,000 seafarers and the concentrated passage of large numbers of stranded vessels will cause severe congestion in the short term at both ends of the strait and in surrounding ports.
2. Mid-term adjustment (1–3 months): Detours driven by the mine threat will increase transit time per voyage. At the same time, global sailing schedules have been disrupted, and carriers will need months to redeploy capacity; shortages of empty containers will also emerge during this period.
3. Long-term recovery (3+ months): A full return to pre-war traffic and freight-rate levels will depend not only on the progress of mine clearance, but also on rebuilding cargo owners’ and insurers’ confidence in the area’s security.

Therefore, when planning supply chains for the coming months, cargo owners should not expect shipping to return to normal “instantly,” and should factor in 1 to 3 months of delays and cost volatility.

Conclusion

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has brought a glimmer of hope to global shipping, but historical data tells us that there is still a long and uncertain transition from “reopening” to “full normalization.” In this challenging era, agility, proactive planning, and professional logistics support will be key for companies to stand out in fierce competition.

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References

[1] Breakthrough move as the U.S. eases Iran sanctions: Temporary lifting of restrictions on Iran’s oil and petrochemical trade. Shipping Circle. 2026-06-23.
[2] Hormuz evacuation to begin for ships stranded in Persian Gulf. CNBC. 2026-06-23.
[3] Oil prices fall as Strait of Hormuz shipping rises despite mine threat. FOX Business. 2026-06-23.
[4] Strait Reopens and Iranian Oil Flows, But the Path Through Is… The New York Times. 2026-06-23.
[5] Suez blockage is holding up $9.6bn of goods a day. BBC. 2021-03-26.
[6] The case of the Suez Canal blockage by the ‘Ever Given’ megaship. ScienceDirect. 2024.
[7] The Impacts of the Red Sea Shipping Crisis. J.P. Morgan. 2024-02-08.
[8] Red Sea crisis: New wave of attacks puts shipping at risk. Project44. 2025-08-21.
[9] Red Sea crisis: Impacts on freight rates, shipping delays, and global routes. FreightAmigo. 2026-04-30.