Despite an attack on a container vessel navigating the Strait of Hormuz, which has prompted some shipowners to reassess withdrawal plans, two-way traffic through this crucial waterway continued on Friday.
Data from vessel tracking services indicates that two fully laden oil tankers were departing the Persian Gulf, while four empty Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) were heading in along the Omani coast. This southern route is managed by Oman and coordinated by the United States.
The attack on the vessel 'Ever Lovely' on Thursday marked the first such incident targeting a ship since the signing of a temporary US-Iran de-escalation agreement. A shipowner, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that some owners and captains are becoming hesitant. A notice shows one Asian company has adjusted its earlier withdrawal plan, instructing staff on vessels in the Persian Gulf to temporarily hold their positions while management re-evaluates transit options.
However, this attack does not appear to have fully disrupted the slow trend towards normalization in shipping. According to Vortexa data, the average daily number of tanker transits had risen to over 20 following the interim agreement and prior to the container ship attack, compared to only about six per day for most of the conflict period.
On Friday, several tankers and bulk carriers were still transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Ships departing via the Omani route included an Aframax tanker bound for India and a smaller tanker under US sanctions. A fully laden VLCC carrying crude oil from the United Arab Emirates had also entered the strait, along with a product tanker loaded with cargo from the same country.
In the opposite direction, an empty VLCC entered, indicating it was heading to Basra, Iraq. Concurrently, three vessels associated with the UAE also entered. Furthermore, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier currently anchored near Khor Fakkan appeared to be attempting a transit.
Some vessels have chosen to navigate the northern route closer to Iran, which is one of the transit options recognized by the International Maritime Organization. A product tanker flying the South Korean flag, another tanker destined for Indonesia, and a bulk carrier were attempting to exit the Persian Gulf via the route near Iran.
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