hormuz-strait

What this skill does

# Hormuz Strait Monitor Skill

Fetches real-time status of the Strait of Hormuz from the [Hormuz Strait Monitor](https://hormuzstraitmonitor.com) dashboard API. Covers shipping transits, oil prices, stranded vessels, insurance risk, diplomatic status, global trade impact, and crisis timeline.

**This skill is read-only.** It fetches public dashboard data — no authentication required.

---

## Step 1: Fetch Dashboard Data

Use `curl` to fetch the dashboard API:

```bash
curl -s https://hormuzstraitmonitor.com/api/dashboard
```

Parse the JSON response. The API returns `{ "success": true, "data": { ... }, "timestamp": "..." }`.

If `success` is `false` or the request fails, inform the user the monitor is temporarily unavailable and suggest checking https://hormuzstraitmonitor.com directly.

---

## Step 2: Identify What the User Needs

Match the user's request to the relevant data sections. If the user asks for a general status update, present all sections. If they ask about something specific, focus on the relevant section(s).

| User Request | Data Section | Key Fields |
|---|---|---|
| General status / "is Hormuz open?" | `straitStatus` | `status`, `since`, `description` |
| Ship traffic / transit count | `shipCount` | `currentTransits`, `last24h`, `normalDaily`, `percentOfNormal` |
| Oil price impact | `oilPrice` | `brentPrice`, `change24h`, `changePercent24h`, `sparkline` |
| Stranded / stuck vessels | `strandedVessels` | `total`, `tankers`, `bulk`, `other`, `changeToday` |
| Insurance / war risk | `insurance` | `level`, `warRiskPercent`, `normalPercent`, `multiplier` |
| Cargo throughput | `throughput` | `todayDWT`, `averageDWT`, `percentOfNormal`, `last7Days` |
| Diplomatic situation | `diplomacy` | `status`, `headline`, `parties`, `summary` |
| Global trade impact | `globalTradeImpact` | `percentOfWorldOilAtRisk`, `estimatedDailyCostBillions`, `affectedRegions`, `lngImpact`, `alternativeRoutes`, `supplyChainImpact` |
| Crisis timeline / events | `crisisTimeline` | `events[]` with `date`, `type`, `title`, `description` |
| Tanker freight rates / VLCC rates | `tankerRates` | `currentRate`, `preCrisisRate`, `changePercent`, `route`, `vesselType`, `trend`, `unit` |
| Latest news | `news` | `title`, `source`, `url`, `publishedAt`, `description` |

---

## Step 3: Present the Data

Format the results clearly for financial research. Adapt the presentation based on what the user asked for.

### General status briefing (default)

When the user asks for a general update, present a concise briefing covering all key sections:

1. **Strait Status** — lead with the current status (e.g., "OPEN", "RESTRICTED", "CLOSED"), how long it's been in that state, and the description
2. **Ship Traffic** — current transits, last 24h count, and percent of normal
3. **Oil Price** — Brent price with 24h change
4. **Stranded Vessels** — total count broken down by type, with today's change
5. **Insurance Risk** — risk level, war risk premium percentage, and multiplier vs. normal
6. **Cargo Throughput** — today's DWT vs. average, percent of normal
7. **Diplomatic Status** — current status, headline, and brief summary
8. **Global Trade Impact** — percent of world oil at risk, estimated daily cost, and top affected regions
9. **Tanker Freight Rates** — current VLCC rate on the benchmark route vs. pre-crisis baseline, with trend direction

### Formatting guidelines

- Use tables for structured data (vessel counts, affected regions, alternative routes)
- Highlight abnormal values — if `percentOfNormal` is below 80% or above 120%, call it out
- For `oilPrice.sparkline`, describe the trend (rising, falling, stable) rather than listing raw numbers
- For `throughput.last7Days`, describe the trend direction
- Show `lastUpdated` timestamp so the user knows data freshness
- For news items, include the source and link
- For crisis timeline events, present chronologically with event type labels

### Risk assessment

Based on the data, provide a brief risk assessment:

Values are returned uppercase.

| Insurance Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| `NORMAL` | No elevated risk — shipping operating normally |
| `ELEVATED` | Some disruption concerns — monitor closely |
| `HIGH` | Significant risk — active disruption or credible threat |
| `CRITICAL` | Severe disruption — major impact on global oil supply |
| `EXTREME` | Effective closure — war risk premiums at multi-decade highs, most commercial traffic halted |

If the strait status is anything other than fully open, highlight:
- The estimated daily cost to global trade
- Which regions are most affected and their oil dependency
- Available alternative routes with additional transit days and cost
- LNG impact if applicable
- SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserve) status in days

---

## Step 4: Respond to the User

- Lead with the most important information: strait status and any active disruption
- Include data freshness (`lastUpdated` timestamp)
- If the situation is elevated or worse, proactively include the global trade impact summary
- Keep the response concise for routine "all clear" statuses; expand for active incidents
- Add a disclaimer: data is sourced from Hormuz Strait Monitor and may have delays

---

## Reference Files

- `references/api_schema.md` — Complete API response schema with field descriptions and data types

Read the reference file when you need exact field names or data type details.