The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean. At its narrowest it is roughly 33 km (21 miles) wide, with shipping lanes only 3 km wide in each direction. About 21% of global petroleum consumption passes through this chokepoint daily, making it the world’s most important oil transit route.

This dashboard tracks vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz using AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponder data polled every 30 minutes. Ships are classified into two geographic zones — the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman — and crossings are detected when a vessel transitions between zones. The monitor tracks approximately 950 ships per poll cycle, including tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, and LNG/LPG carriers.

Public API access provides real‑time ship positions at /api/ships, daily crossing statistics at /api/crossings/daily, and the full ship directory at /api/ships/directory. Developers can retrieve JSON data for analysis, while the system ensures continuous monitoring of this critical maritime corridor.

Because of its strategic importance, accurate, up‑to‑date traffic data is essential for shippers, insurers, and policymakers navigating the risks of the region.