Supertanker’s Second Attempt to Enter Persian Gulf Amid 2026 Blockade
According to a report from Oilprice.com, a Malta-flagged very large crude carrier named Agios Fanourios I is making a second attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel is broadcasting its position as within the Persian Gulf and signaling a destination of Basrah in Iraq, based on vessel-tracking data.
The supertanker is intended to collect a crude oil cargo for delivery to a refinery in Vietnam. On Wednesday morning local time, tracking data indicated the tanker was moving through the strait along a route between the islands of Qeshm and Larak that has approval from Tehran.
This transit attempt follows an initial effort on Sunday that was abandoned. The vessel turned around before entering the Strait of Hormuz after lengthy discussions between the United States and Iran concluded without progress.
Blockade Efforts Intensify
The current President of the United States initiated a blockade in the Gulf of Oman outside the chokepoint on Monday. The stated aim of this action is to restrict Iranian oil exports and the movement of vessels linked to Iran. U.S. Central Command asserted late Tuesday that it had entirely stopped maritime economic trade into and out of Iran, with no vessels getting past the blockade and six ships turning back toward Iranian ports.
Shipping Companies Remain Cautious
However, shipping companies and tanker owners remain cautious about operations in the area due to uncertainty over the specific rules. Meanwhile, analysis from maritime intelligence firm Windward indicates Iranian oil continues to move via indirect networks, with significant volumes accumulating offshore instead of moving directly through the Strait of Hormuz.
As of April 13, at least eleven tankers holding approximately twenty million barrels of Iranian oil were positioned offshore Malaysia within a ship-to-ship transfer hub. These vessels are likely waiting for other ships to offload onto or preparing for further movement.
Original Article: Supertanker’s Second Attempt to Enter Persian Gulf Amid 2026 Blockade — Indexbox