Maritime Industry Briefing: Strait of Hormuz Traffic Recovers, South China Sea Tensions Continue, and Woods Hole Ferry Terminal Completes Expansion

## Hormuz Traffic Rebounds as Operators Return Supertankers to Persian Gulf Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has picked up for the first time following Iran's recent attacks on vessels transiting the critical waterway, according to gCaptain. Crude tanker operators are once again routing supertankers into the Persian Gulf, signalling a cautious return of confidence among shipowners and charterers. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically vital chokepoints, with approximately 20% of global oil supply passing through its waters. The resumption of supertanker traffic will be closely watched by energy markets and shipping insurers, particularly given the elevated war risk premiums that have accompanied recent hostilities in the region. ## China Intensifies Patrols Around Scarborough Shoal China's military and coast guard conducted patrols in waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, Beijing announced on Tuesday, as reported by gCaptain. The operations form part of China's ongoing effort to assert and enforce its territorial claims over the disputed feature, which lies approximately 240 kilometres west of the Philippine island of Luzon. The Scarborough Shoal has been a persistent flashpoint between China and the Philippines, with the United States maintaining mutual defence treaty obligations to Manila. Increased Chinese patrol activity in the area raises concerns over freedom of navigation and the safety of commercial vessels transiting nearby shipping lanes, which carry a significant share of global trade between East Asia and the wider world. ## Woods Hole Ferry Terminal Expansion Reaches Completion An expanded ferry terminal at Woods Hole in Falmouth, Massachusetts, reached completion in May 2026 following more than a decade of planning and construction, according to a PR Newswire release. The project specified PENETRON ADMIX SB crystalline waterproofing admixture to protect below-grade concrete structures from water ingress — a critical consideration for marine infrastructure subject to constant moisture exposure and hydrostatic pressure. The Woods Hole terminal serves as the primary departure point for ferry services to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, handling millions of passengers annually. The completion of the long-awaited expansion is expected to improve passenger capacity, operational efficiency, and the long-term structural resilience of the facility.