Tankers dodge Iran threat as 2 more oil carriers cross Hormuz with trackers off

Two more supertankers carrying nearly 4 million barrels of crude sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz last week with their trackers switched off. The moves reflect efforts to keep Middle East oil exports flowing amid fears of Iranian attacks.

In Short

• Basrah Energy loaded 2 million barrels of Upper Zakum at Zirku
• The Panama-flagged vessel discharged its cargo at Fujairah Oil Tanker Terminals
• Sinokor owns and manages the tanker, but its charterer remains unclear

Two more tankers laden with crude exited the Strait of Hormuz last week with trackers switched off to avoid Iranian attacks, Kpler shipping data showed, underscoring a rising trend to sustain Middle East oil exports.

The very large crude carrier (VLCC) Basrah Energy loaded 2 million barrels of Upper Zakum crude from Abu Dhabi National Oil Co's (ADNOC's) Zirku terminal on May 1 and exited the Strait of Hormuz on May 6, the data showed on Monday.

The Panama-flagged vessel offloaded its cargo at the Fujairah Oil Tanker Terminals on May 8, according to the data.

It was not immediately clear which company chartered the tanker owned and managed by shipper Sinokor. Sinokor did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of office hours.

ADNOC and its buyers have recently sailed several tankers loaded with crude through the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to move oil stranded in the Gulf by the Middle East conflict.

Separately, another VLCC, the Kiara M, exited the Gulf on Sunday with its transponder switched off, the data showed.

It was not immediately clear where the San Marino-flagged tanker would discharge the 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude on board.

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