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World
Two oil tankers carrying crude have left the Strait of Hormuz this week after switching off tracking devices to avoid Iranian attacks.
Two more crude-laden oil tankers have transited the Strait of Hormuz this week after deactivating their tracking systems, according to data from the firm Kepler. The move is seen as an attempt to evade potential Iranian strikes amid heightened tensions in the region.
On Monday, Kepler data showed the ultra-large crude carrier (ULCC) "Basra Energy" departed the strait on May 6, carrying 2 million barrels of Upper Zakum crude from the Zirku Island terminal, operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The vessel, which had loaded the cargo on May 1, later discharged its oil at Fujairah's tanker terminals on May 8, the data indicated.
The Panama-flagged ship is owned and managed by the shipping firm Sinokor, though it remains unclear which company chartered the vessel.
ADNOC and its buyers have recently dispatched several crude-laden tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to move oil stranded in the Gulf due to the broader Middle East conflict.
In a separate development, Kepler data also revealed that another ULCC, the "Chiara M," left the Gulf on Sunday with its transponder switched off. The San Marino-flagged vessel is carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude, but its final destination remains unknown.
