Shipping paralysis in Strait of Hormuz persists on day five as vessels anchor off Gulf producers
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Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The crisis that has paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz showed no sign of abating on day five of the Middle Eastern conflict.
At least 200 ships, including oil and liquefied natural gas tankers as well as cargo ships, remained at anchor in open waters off the coast of major Gulf producers Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The figure is a Reuters estimate based on ship tracking data from the MarineTraffic platform.
Hundreds of other vessels remained outside the Strait of Hormuz, unable to reach ports, shipping data shows.
The waterway is a key artery for around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
Qatar suspended its gas output and Iraq cut its oil production after both ran out of storage for gas and oil, unable to load it in tankers. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait were also struggling to load oil, but it was not yet clear if they had cut output.
