South Africa · Atlantic ↔ Indian Ocean
Cape of Good Hope — Ship Transits Today
Daily vessel transits through the Cape of Good Hope, by ship type, compared with the same week last year. Updated daily.
Daily transits, last 90 days
By vessel type
Ships/day, 7-day average| Type | Ships/day |
|---|---|
| Container ships | 14.3 |
| Tankers | 21.9 |
| Dry bulk | 43.4 |
| General cargo | 4.6 |
| Ro-ro | 3 |
Cargo-carrying capacity transiting (deadweight) is -6% against the same week last year.
About the Cape of Good Hope
The Cape route is the alternative to Suez for Asia–Europe and Asia–US East Coast trade, and the natural route for South American and West African cargo heading east.
Cape transits rise when Suez and Bab el-Mandeb fall — compare the three to see how much traffic is diverting. Winter storms off the Cape slow ships down.
Source: IMF PortWatch daily chokepoint transits, built from satellite AIS by the IMF and the University of Oxford.
Shipping through the Cape of Good Hope? Track your container or vessel free with Shyppy — live position, ETA changes and rollover alerts. Compare routings with the sea distance calculator, or see all chokepoints.
Questions
How many ships pass through the Cape of Good Hope per day?
In the 7 days to 25 October 2026, an average of 87.1 vessels a day transited the Cape of Good Hope, compared with 94.3 a day in the same week last year (-8%).
Is the Cape of Good Hope open?
Yes — ships were transiting the Cape of Good Hope in the latest data (25 October 2026). Traffic is currently normal compared with last year.
What disrupts traffic through the Cape of Good Hope?
Cape transits rise when Suez and Bab el-Mandeb fall — compare the three to see how much traffic is diverting. Winter storms off the Cape slow ships down.
Where does this data come from?
IMF PortWatch, which counts vessel crossings from satellite AIS. Shyppy refreshes it daily and compares the 7-day average with the same week a year earlier.
Other chokepoints: Suez Canal · Panama Canal · Bosporus Strait · Bab el-Mandeb Strait · Malacca Strait · Strait of Hormuz · Strait of Gibraltar · Dover Strait · Øresund Strait · Taiwan Strait · Korea Strait · Tsugaru Strait · Luzon Strait · Lombok Strait · Ombai Strait · Bohai Strait · Torres Strait · Sunda Strait · Makassar Strait · Strait of Magellan · Yucatán Channel · Windward Passage · Mona Passage · Balabac Strait · Bering Strait · Mindoro Strait · Kerch Strait