A Pakistani-flagged tanker that entered the Persian Gulf over the weekend became the first vessel to exit through the Strait of Hormuz with a shipment of oil since the US blockade began on Monday, highlighting how restricted movement remains through the vital narrow strait, Bloomberg reports, writes UNN.
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According to vessel tracking systems, on Thursday evening, the tanker Shalamar passed south of the Iranian island of Larak and entered the Gulf of Oman with approximately 450,000 barrels of oil loaded on Das Island in the United Arab Emirates. The Aframax-class tanker, only half full, indicates Karachi as its destination.
Passages through this narrow strait have largely remained in single digits since the start of US and Israeli strikes in late February, and after a surge over the weekend, they have returned to these low levels. The US Navy blockade now requires shipowners to coordinate with Iranian and American authorities to transport oil and other cargo from the Persian Gulf worldwide.
Although three supertankers loaded with non-Iranian oil successfully put to sea last week, only a few other vessels with similar cargoes have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past seven weeks, even before the approach of American warships. Even with Iran's apparent permission for some Pakistani vessels, the Shalamar's transit – after several days in the Persian Gulf – becomes even more unusual, the publication notes.
Sanctioned supertankers break through to Persian Gulf despite blockade16.04.26, 07:23
Before the latest US maneuver, Iran's own fleet continued to gradually pass through the strait, transporting almost 1.7 million barrels of oil per day in March. This flow has largely ceased, as both sides consider a new round of negotiations.
The Shalamar first attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf on Sunday but turned back when peace talks between Iran and the US failed. Hours later, it made the crossing, heading for Das Island in the UAE.
Then came the US blockade of the Iranian coast – which was announced by US President Donald Trump and came into effect on Monday – forcing shipowners to reconsider the risks of any crossing. The Shalamar began moving east on Thursday and is now in the Gulf of Oman, heading for the Arabian Sea.
Since the US blockade began, only a few vessels have attempted to leave the Persian Gulf, and some have only tried to turn around and return through the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command said on Thursday that 14 vessels had turned around in three days.
The blockade extends from the Omani coast in the Ras al Hadd area northeast to the Iran-Pakistan border, according to a map shown in an online video released by the naval unit on Thursday.
On Friday, four vessels – all heading to destinations unrelated to Iran – had either already passed or were approaching transit points, while two bulk carriers arriving from Iran were observed entering the Gulf of Oman.
As the Equasis maritime database shows, the Shalamar is owned and operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corp.