The current US restriction on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports is causing uncertainty for shipping activities in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been mostly closed off since the beginning of the conflict with Iran. Typically, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports pass through this vital waterway.
Let’s take a look at some of the non-Iranian oil tankers that have navigated the strait since the commencement of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28, categorized by their destination for cargo delivery.
In Malaysia, the Liberia-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Serifos recently traversed the Hormuz Passage trial anchorage that avoids Iran’s Larak Island on April 10. Loaded with crude from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in early March, the vessel is scheduled to reach Malaysia’s Malacca port on April 21. Additionally, the Ocean Thunder, carrying Iraqi crude and chartered by a unit of Malaysian state energy firm Petronas, transited the strait on April 5 and is set to unload its cargo of 1 million barrels of Basrah Heavy crude at Malaysia’s Pengerang on April 18. Sources indicate that Iran has authorized seven vessels linked to Malaysia to pass through the strait.
Heading towards China, the China-flagged VLCCs Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai exited the Strait of Hormuz on April 11. Cospearl Lake, carrying Iraqi oil, is expected to dock at China’s Zhoushan port on May 1. On the other hand, He Rong Hai is en route to Myanmar to deliver its Saudi crude cargo. Both VLCCs are chartered by Unipec, the trading arm of Chinese energy giant Sinopec. Another VLCC named Dhalkut, which crossed the strait on April 2, is bound for Myanmar to unload Saudi crude on April 22, based on Kpler data. Typically, crude discharged in Myanmar is routed to PetroChina’s Yunnan refinery. A spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry reported that three Chinese vessels recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz following coordination with relevant parties.
In India, at least two VLCCs and two suezmax tankers exited the Gulf in March and April to discharge crude in India. VLCC Habrut, which crossed the strait on April 2, is sailing to Paradip to offload Abu Dhabi crude for Indian Oil Corp on April 15. Meanwhile, VLCC Marathi discharged Saudi crude at the Sikka port for Reliance Industries on March 28. The Liberia-flagged Smyrni suezmax tanker left the strait on March 12 and discharged 1 million barrels of Saudi crude at Mumbai for state refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corp on March 16. Another suezmax named Shenlong departed the strait on March 6 and delivered the same quantity of Saudi crude at Mumbai on March 11. Additionally, a Gabon-flagged tanker named Msg, loaded with residue fuel, is heading to India’s Pipavav port after passing through the strait on April 9. Furthermore, the Liberia-flagged Navara, which sailed through the strait on March 31, discharged fuel oil at Sikka port on April 8. The government announced in late March that two India-bound liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers carrying about 94,000 metric tons of cooking gas have safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and are on their way to India. BW Tyr discharged at Mumbai and Pipavav between April 5 and April 7, while BW Elm unloaded at three Indian ports between April 6 and April 15, as per Kpler data. Previously, four other Indian-flagged LPG tankers—Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Pine Gas, and Jag Vasant—have exited the strait.
In Pakistan, two Pakistan-flagged tankers entered the Gulf on April 12. The Aframax tanker Shalamar is sailing to the United Arab Emirates to load Das crude, while the Panamax-sized Khairpur is heading to Kuwait to load refined products. Aframax tanker P. Aliki passed through the strait on March 28 and discharged Saudi crude at Karachi on March 31.
Lastly, a Thai oil tanker owned by Bangchak Corporation successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz with the coordination of Thailand and Iran, without having to pay to evade the blockade, as confirmed by a Thai official and the owning oil major on March 25. The Suezmax tanker Pola unloaded 1 million barrels of Khafji crude at Thailand and Singapore, according to Kpler data.