According to vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic.com, the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed shortly before 17:00 UTC yesterday, as no further passages were recorded after that time. Around 16:50 UTC, the oil tanker Starbound Explorer, which was transiting Iranian waters, turned back toward the Persian Gulf before completing its passage. At roughly the same time, the container ship MSC Qingdao, which had been exiting the strait via a route established by the United States in Omani waters, reversed course back toward the Gulf, briefly changed direction again, and ultimately left the strait.