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At least two U.S.-sanctioned Iran-linked ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz and headed for the Persian Gulf on Thursday, taking a potentially new route from the United Arab Emirates even as the U.S. blockade entered its third day.
Shipowners, energy traders and investors are closely monitoring transits through the strait for indications of how Tehran and Washington are exerting control over one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. Only a handful of ships have transited since the US began blocking traffic; this is because crews now have to clear not one but two armadas to ensure safe passage for themselves and their cargo.
The liquefied petroleum gas carrier G Summer passed between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands and headed towards the Persian Gulf late Wednesday afternoon, according to ship tracking data. An empty tanker listed the Iraqi port of Khor Al Zubair as its destination, often broadcasting that its ownership and crew were Chinese, as a security precaution.
Hong Lu, a very large crude oil carrier that, like G Summer, has been blacklisted by Washington for its ties to Iran, passed through the islands shortly afterwards. The VLCC, which can carry up to two million barrels of crude oil, is unloaded and is currently sailing westward along the Iranian coastline. It briefly signaled Basra, Iraq, as its destination, but now indicates it is awaiting orders.
G Summer and Hong Lu arrived from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates earlier this week, then on Wednesday headed northeast across the Gulf of Oman to the Iranian coastline, then north towards Hormuz, an unusually circuitous route.
The owners of the two ships did not immediately respond to questions sent by authorities. Bloomberg.
