Two More Oil Tankers Leave Strait of Hormuz with Trackers Off

• The VLCC Basrah Energy loaded 2 million barrels of Upper Zakum crude from ADNOC's terminal, exited the Strait on May 6 with trackers off, and delivered to Fujairah on May 8
• A second VLCC, the Kiara M, exited the Gulf on Sunday with its transponder disabled while carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude to an undisclosed destination
• The tracker shutdowns underscore an emerging pattern of tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz with disabled tracking systems to move oil stranded by the Middle East conflict

Summary: Two More Oil Tankers Leave Strait of Hormuz with Trackers Off

Two additional crude oil tankers navigated the Strait of Hormuz last week with their tracking systems disabled to evade potential Iranian attacks, highlighting an emerging pattern to maintain Middle East oil exports amid regional tensions.

Key Vessels and Cargo:

The Panama-flagged VLCC Basrah Energy loaded 2 million barrels of Upper Zakum crude from Abu Dhabi National Oil Co's (ADNOC) Zirku terminal on May 1, exited the strait on May 6, and offloaded cargo at Fujairah Oil Tanker Terminals on May 8. The vessel is owned and managed by shipper Sinokor, though the charterer remains unidentified.

A second VLCC, the San Marino-flagged Kiara M, departed the Gulf on Sunday with its transponder switched off, carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude. Its discharge destination is currently unknown.

Market Context:

Shipping companies have increasingly sailed tankers through the Strait of Hormuz with disabled trackers to transport oil stranded in the Gulf due to the Middle East conflict. This trend reflects efforts to sustain critical oil flows through one of the world's most strategic chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies transit.

Broader Implications:

The practice of disabling vessel transponders indicates heightened security concerns in the region while demonstrating the industry's adaptation to maintain supply chains. A related industry survey noted Britain's jobs market weakened in April as recruiters grew cautious amid cost pressures from the Iran conflict, suggesting broader economic ripple effects from Middle East tensions.

The situation underscores ongoing geopolitical risks to global energy supply chains and potential volatility in oil markets.