First Oil Tanker Passes Through Strait After US Blockade of Hormuz

As the United States continues its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz against Iran, a crude oil tanker has become the first case to pass through the strait towards the Persian Gulf (also known as the Gulf).

According to the vessel tracking website MarineTraffic on April 15 (local time), the Malta-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Agios Panourios I passed through the Strait of Hormuz westbound.

Map of the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

At approximately 12:58 a.m. Iran time, the ship's Automatic Identification System (AIS) status changed from "at anchor" to "under way using engine," and it crossed the strait at about 5:21 a.m. The vessel then entered the Persian Gulf at around 6:06 a.m. and is scheduled to dock in Basra, Iraq, on April 16.

Earlier that day, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter) that "in the 48 hours since the United States began enforcing the blockade on ships entering and leaving Iranian ports, not a single vessel has passed through under U.S. control," adding that nine ships had returned to Iranian ports or coastal areas.

However, The New York Times, citing shipping data from vessel tracking company Kpler, reported that more than 12 ships unrelated to Iran had transited the strait between April 13 and 14.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.