Despite the Hormuz blockade, giant tankers are heading to Basra ports, and Iraqi crude oil is flowing to markets.
Giant oil tankers continue their journeys to Iraqi ports to load crude shipments, despite escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the tightening of the US embargo on ships linked to Iran, in an indication of the continued global demand for Iraqi oil and the assurance of the security of its supplies.
Shipping data from the international ship-tracking company Kpler showed that the giant oil tanker “Alecia” – which is on the US sanctions lists – entered the waters of the Gulf and is expected to dock in Iraq in the coming days.
In the same context, the tanker “Agios Phanorios 1” was spotted making its way towards Basra to load a shipment of “Basra crude” destined for a refinery in Vietnam.
In contrast, the data revealed that the tanker “Rich Stary” failed to overcome the American embargo imposed on ships that had previously docked in Iranian ports, forcing it to return to the Strait of Hormuz one day after attempting to leave the Gulf.
This maritime confusion comes in the wake of Washington’s announcement of a comprehensive naval blockade on Tehran, which has severely restricted the movement of ships; tankers linked to the Iranian side have been unable to cross the strait in recent hours, and some have been forced to return to their points of origin.
These measures have caused a noticeable decline in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important energy artery – amid a state of anticipation and caution prevailing in global energy markets as they await the outcome of the current escalation.
Shafaq.com