As of March 12, 2026, the is effectively closed to most commercial traffic following Iran's official declaration of closure in early March. While overall tanker transits have collapsed by approximately 92%, a small number of vessels continue to attempt the crossing, primarily those with ties to Iran, China, or the "shadow fleet".
Vessels Currently Transiting or Recently Spotted
Despite the near-total shutdown, the following tankers have been identified in or near the strait within the last 24–48 hours:
- Shenlong: A Liberia-flagged tanker carrying Saudi crude was recently permitted to pass through the strait toward Indian waters.
- Pushpak: A petroleum product tanker that departed an Iraqi port and successfully exited the Gulf on Thursday evening.
- Danuta I: A 225-meter natural gas carrier currently under U.S. sanctions, which crossed the strait at dawn on Friday.
- Cuma: A U.S.-sanctioned crude oil tanker that sailed from Iran earlier this week.
- Heilan Journey: A Chinese cargo ship recorded as transiting the strait on Wednesday morning.
- Kavomaleas: A tanker that moved through the strait under a partial Automatic Identification System (AIS) blackout between March 3 and March 4.
Recent Attacks and Targeted Vessels
Several tankers that attempted transit or were in nearby waters have come under attack as Iran stepped up its targeting of non-authorized ships:
- Safesea Vishnu: A Marshall Islands-flagged tanker owned by a U.S.-based group, set ablaze by explosive-laden boats during a ship-to-ship transfer in Iraqi waters.
- Zefyros: A Malta-flagged tanker attacked alongside the Safesea Vishnu while transferring fuel.
- Mayuree Naree: A Thai-flagged bulk carrier hit by a projectile 11 nautical miles north of Oman on Wednesday, causing a major engine room fire.
- Source Blessing: A Hapag-Lloyd chartered vessel struck by projectile shrapnel on Thursday morning.
Transit Strategies and Conditions
- Shadow Fleet Dominance: Of the 13 large carriers that crossed between March 2 and March 9, eight were identified by Lloyd’s List Intelligence as "shadow fleet" vessels carrying sanctioned cargo from Iran, Russia, or Venezuela.
- "Going Dark": Many vessels have switched off their AIS transponders to perform "dark transits" and avoid detection.
- China-Linked Signaling: Multiple vessels are broadcasting messages like "CHINA OWNER" or "CHINA CREW" in their AIS data to signal neutrality and reduce the risk of being targeted.
- Vessels Stranded: More than 400 tankers remain anchored or stranded within the Persian Gulf as of late last week, unable to secure permission or insurance for safe transit.
No comments:
Post a Comment