# What is the type of ship shown in some articles about the Strait of Hormuz? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 21, 2026, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069 "2026-06-21T07:31:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/1 "2026-06-21T07:31:48Z")
Articles about that strait being blocked often are illustrated with pictures about a crowd of ships at anchor waiting for the strait being opened again. Sometimes these vessels shown are typical crude tankers, but from time to time I see pictures (usually credited to Xinhua) of a field of ships at anchor with the following characteristics - Pretty small as oceangoing freighters go - Superstructure takes up a large part of the deck - Shown with high freeboard (they may be all in ballast, and/or constructed to be pretty high) I cannot find a good article with a static photograph at the moment, the best I can do is the first few seconds of this German newscast video > **[Iranisches Militär erklärt Straße von Hormus erneut für gesperrt](https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/asien/hormus-gesperrt-iran-usa-100.html)** > > Das iranische Militär hat die Straße von Hormus wieder für gesperrt erklärt. Begründet wurde dies mit den israelischen Angriffen im Libanon. Das US-Militär widersprach: Der Schiffsverkehr laufe weiter. Am Sonntag wollen beide Seiten verhandeln. What type of ship are these? ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/2 "2026-06-21T07:35:11Z")
A better picture from a Guardian article > **[Iran announces plans to bring in maritime fees for strait of Hormuz](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/18/iran-announces-plans-to-bring-in-maritime-fees-for-strait-of-hormuz)** > > As US lifts its blockade, Tehran says fees to cover cost of managing waterway will come into effect at end of 60-day negotiation period ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/3 "2026-06-21T07:40:14Z")
Another article from FT (sorry for posting multiple links; articles may be behind paywall for some or subject to change in material) [https://www.ft.com/content/31450147-1b85-4ecf-a60d-0c0e3a298ae7?syn-25a6b1a6=1](https://www.ft.com/content/31450147-1b85-4ecf-a60d-0c0e3a298ae7?syn-25a6b1a6=1) ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/4 "2026-06-21T07:43:21Z")
Another from The Economist [https://www.economist.com/the-world-in-brief/2026/06/21/e4be4d91-f132-4280-991c-f59190bc6d76](https://www.economist.com/the-world-in-brief/2026/06/21/e4be4d91-f132-4280-991c-f59190bc6d76) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/5 "2026-06-21T07:52:07Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > - Pretty small as oceangoing freighters go Coastal tanker? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/6 "2026-06-21T09:49:58Z")
They are small local vessels that I believe are called - or at least are in the style of - traditional [Lenj boats](https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-locally-built-boat-called-lenjanchored-in-qrshm-island-iran-78519596.html). They are pretty general purpose as I understand it (fishing, passengers, local cargo trading). They are not tankers. Ironically while they are being used as background shots for stories about the Hormuz blockade I doubt they are subject to it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/7 "2026-06-21T13:08:30Z")
> **[Construction of Iranian Lenj boats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_of_Iranian_Lenj_boats)** > > Lenj boats are built by the people of southern Iran and the inhabitants of the Persian Gulf for two main purposes: passenger transport and cargo shipping. They are used for maritime travel, trade, fishing, and pearl diving. Traditionally, Lenj boats are handcrafted using wood. Most wooden Lenj-building workshops are located in the provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Khuzestan. > The ports of Laft, Goran, Pohl, Kong, and Jask in Hormozgan Province, along with Genaveh and Ch... > **Lenj boats** are built by the people of southern Iran and the inhabitants of the [Persian Gulf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf "Persian Gulf") for two main purposes: passenger transport and cargo shipping. They are used for maritime travel, trade, fishing, and pearl diving. Traditionally, Lenj boats are handcrafted using wood. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-type-of-ship-shown-in-some-articles-about-the-strait-of-hormuz/1031069/8 "2026-06-21T14:07:01Z")
The traditional boatyards on the island of Qeshm where these vessels have been built for the last 400 years are UNESCO Heritage sites. Qeshm is ground zero for control of the Strait of Hormuz