Tankers are turning in the opposite direction in Hormuz, some instead going the way of Iran | Today’s news
At least eight ships trying to leave the Persian Gulf along Oman’s coast turned back between Friday and Saturday in the latest sign that reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains complicated by Iran’s push to assert its control over the key waterway. Some vessels continued their transits by switching to a route closer to Iran.
Ships, including oil tankers, bulk carriers and ships, have been observed sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz, ship tracking data shows. Some made it all the way to the tip of the Musandam Peninsula, which juts out into a choke point, before making sharp turns. One crude oil tanker, two product tankers and one bulk carrier then sailed north to take the departure route as dictated by Iran.
It is not known why the ships turned in the opposite direction, although Iran has repeatedly said that vessels should only pass through the strait through an authorized route designated by the Islamic Republic.
Over the past few months, vessels attempting to leave the Persian Gulf have reported hearing Iranian forces warning over radio communications that they need permission from Tehran for their crossings. Some were attacked for continuing their journeys, raising wider concerns about transit coordination. Risk tolerance on the part of tanker companies and their crews is essential for the global oil market to return to normal.
As of Monday, an average of about 34 cargo ships were passing through the strait a day, a notable increase from daily averages for most of the war, but still far from pre-war levels. Between June 30 and July 1, 65 ships passed by the Omani side, 59 of which were supported by the US, data from the Joint Maritime Information Center show.
Despite a mid-June deal between the US and Iran to reopen the strait, Tehran continues to claim control of the vital corridor, while the US continues to support vessel transit along Oman’s coast.
