Japan-Bound Oil Tanker Clears Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions
In a notable development for global energy markets still reeling from disruptions in the Persian Gulf, a Japan-bound crude oil tanker has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, identified as the Eneos Endeavor and owned by Japanese refiner Eneos, is the second Japan-bound tanker to clear the critical chokepoint since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began at the end of February 2026.
According to tracking data, the Eneos Endeavor is carrying approximately 1.2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude and 700,000 barrels of Emirati crude, loaded in late February. Like many vessels navigating the region amid heightened risks, the tanker switched off its transponder while passing through the strait—a now-common practice to avoid detection by Iranian forces.
Tanker Traffic Snapshot: Last Three Months (Mid-February to Mid-May 2026)
The Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles around 100 commercial vessels per day (including 80+ oil and gas tankers) and roughly 20.9 million barrels per day of oil flows pre-conflict, has seen traffic collapse by more than 95% since late February.
Key data points from shipping analytics firms (Kpler, LSEG, Lloyd’s List Intelligence, and others):
From February 28 to April 12, 2026: Approximately 279 ships transited the strait in total (far below the pre-war daily average of ~100).
March 2026: Around 220 vessel transits overall, with liquid tankers (including some oil) accounting for ~51%, dry bulk ~37%, and LPG carriers ~12%. No LNG carriers were reported in March.
April 2026: Traffic remained minimal, with occasional daily highs of 20+ vessels but frequent days of single-digit or zero transits for large tankers. One analysis noted 191 vessels in April overall.
Recent weeks (late April to mid-May): Modest uptick, with one week seeing ~48 cargo vessels over 10,000 dwt (still <10% of normal). Oil tanker transits have averaged low single digits on many days, often with AIS transponders disabled.
Origins and Destinations: Precise Country-by-Country Breakdowns
Precise country-by-country breakdowns for every tanker are not fully aggregated publicly due to dark fleet practices and selective routing, but available data shows cargoes primarily loaded from Gulf exporters (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait) heading to Asian markets (Japan, China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Pakistan). Examples include Iraqi and Emirati crude on recent supertankers, as well as limited UAE/Qatar-origin cargoes. Passages often require case-by-case Iranian approval, with some tied to diplomatic arrangements.
Oil Slick Off Kharg Island: Infrastructure Strain or Accidental Release?
Compounding concerns about Iranian oil operations, satellite imagery from early May 2026 revealed a large oil slick spreading in the Persian Gulf off Kharg Island—Iran’s primary crude export terminal and loading hub. The slick covered more than 20 square miles and may have involved 3,000+ barrels of oil.
Iran’s Oil Terminals Company has denied any leaks from its storage tanks, pipelines, or facilities, attributing the incident to ballast water discharge from a non-Iranian tanker. Independent analysts point out that such releases are rare in this region and suggest an infrastructure strain or accidental release might be more plausible explanations.
Original Article: Japan-Bound Oil Tanker Clears Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions — Energynewsbeat