Over 300 Vessels File for PGSA Permits as Hormuz Traffic Slows to a Trickle

More than 300 non-Iranian commercial vessels have formally applied for safe-passage permits through the Strait of Hormuz following the establishment of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) by Iran in late May 2026. The move has thrown one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints into uncertainty, with transit numbers falling well below historical averages.

According to tracking data analyzed by industry sources, only six verified crossings were recorded on June 3 — a figure that stands in stark contrast to the roughly 20–22 transits typically observed on any given day. Of the vessels currently held up, approximately 77 percent are outbound — predominantly bound for China and India — while the remaining 23 percent are inbound cargo destined for UAE ports.

The scale of the disruption is considerable: an estimated 2,000 vessels are caught up in the standoff, though some shipping intelligence services put the number of actively affected ships lower. Over the past three weeks, around 40 vessels managed to complete transit with coordination support from US Navy forces in the region. However, US officials have clarified that American forces are maintaining communication channels with commercial shipping rather than providing direct escorts.

The PGSA, which Iran asserts holds authority over a defined geographic corridor through the Strait, has stated it will not issue permits to vessels flying flags of countries it designates as hostile. The full list of restricted nationalities has not been officially disclosed, adding compliance uncertainty for operators and owners.

For seafarers and shipping companies, the consequences are immediate: voyages are lengthening, crew contracts are stretching beyond agreed rotations, and insurance premiums for Gulf transit have climbed sharply. Crewing managers and charterers are urged to monitor PGSA developments closely and build significant delay buffers into all scheduling decisions until the situation stabilises.