The short answer: yes, but open needs a definition
In everyday language, open suggests normal conditions. Maritime operations are more nuanced. A strait may not be physically blocked while recording a severe fall in transits because of attacks, threats, limited escorts, commercial decisions or unavailable insurance.
This monitor therefore separates operational status, restrictions and confidence. A report about fewer vessels must not automatically become a closure claim.
Five different situations often mixed together
Normal transit, open with restrictions, residual traffic, declared closure and effective operational closure describe different realities. The distinction matters for safety, markets and public communication.
What actually demonstrates activity
The strongest evidence comes from completed tracks, navigational warnings, maritime authority confirmations, aggregated transit data and independent operator reporting. AIS maps provide context, but coverage may be incomplete, delayed or filtered.
Why a traffic collapse still matters
Even without a proven closure, a persistent fall in traffic can raise freight and insurance costs, create vessel queues and transmit costs through energy and supply chains. The economic effect depends on both the missing volume and the duration.
How to read this monitor
An UNCERTAIN status does not mean that nothing is happening. It means available sources do not support a rigorous open-or-closed claim. Uncertainty is information and should be published rather than hidden.