First oil tanker passes Hormuz Strait after US blockade — Bloomberg
File photo: The first oil tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz following the US blockade (Getty Images)
The Pakistani-flagged tanker Shalamar became the first vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz carrying a cargo of crude oil since the US blockade began on April 13, according to Bloomberg.
According to a vessel tracking system, late Thursday evening, the Shalamar passed south of Larak Island in Iran and entered the Gulf of Oman.
The vessel loaded about 450,000 barrels of crude oil on Das Island in the United Arab Emirates.
The Aframax-class tanker, which is currently about half-loaded, lists the Pakistani port of Karachi as its final destination.
Amid restrictions imposed in the region, the US Navy requires shipowners to obtain permits from both Iranian and American authorities to export oil and other cargo from the Persian Gulf.
Last Sunday, the Shalamar had already attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and enter the Persian Gulf, but turned back amid the breakdown of negotiations between Iran and the US.
Subsequently, the tanker made another attempt to pass through and headed toward Das Island, which belongs to the UAE.
US blockade of Hormuz Strait
US Central Command announced the imposition of a complete blockade of maritime traffic with Iran starting April 13, by order of President Donald Trump.
The restrictions apply in the Persian and Omani Gulfs and affect all vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports. Trump threatened that violators approaching the blockade would be eliminated.
Western media reports that since the blockade took effect, the US has forced at least 13 vessels that departed from Iranian ports to change course.
At the same time, other media outlets report that despite the announced restrictions, a Chinese tanker subject to sanctions crossed the Strait of Hormuz in defiance of the blockade.
Ships subject to sanctions linked to Iran have begun using alternative routes to pass through the Strait of Hormuz amid US restrictions that have been in place for three days now.
