A laden supertanker linked to Japan appears to have completed a transit through the Strait of Hormuz, in what may be the country's first successful oil-carrier exit from the Persian Gulf since the Iran war began. According to tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, the Idemitsu Maru began moving toward the strait on the evening of April 27 from a position northwest of Abu Dhabi, where it had been idle for over a week.
The tanker followed the northern route near the islands of Qeshm and Larak approved by Tehran, and successfully cleared the strait on April 28. It is carrying 2 million barrels of crude loaded from Saudi Arabia's Juaymah terminal in early March. The 2007-built, Panama-flagged VLCC entered the Persian Gulf a few days before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February. It is listed as operated by the tanker arm of Japanese energy conglomerate Idemitsu Kosan Co., currently signalling Nagoya, Japan as destination with an ETA of May 18.
A company spokesperson said that for safety reasons, Idemitsu would not comment on individual vessels. Ship-tracking in the Strait of Hormuz may not capture all transits since some vessels switch off transponders and signals can be jammed. A transit by a Japanese-owned tanker would mark a shift in approach by the country's refiners and shipowners. The Idemitsu Maru attempt is also notable as one of the largest tankers to make this transit since the U.S. began its own blockade of Iranian ships two weeks ago.
Japan is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude, but its shipowners have been cautious during the hostilities. Idemitsu, among others, has used ship-to-ship transfers well outside the Persian Gulf to procure cargoes. They have also turned to U.S.-sourced alternative supplies on smaller tankers. Some Japan-linked vessels have transited during the war, but only with non-oil cargoes. Earlier this month, an LPG carrier co-owned by another Japanese shipowner exited the Gulf in a passage facilitated by India.
Key Takeaways:
1. Idemitsu Maru is the first Japanese supertanker to exit Hormuz since the war started.
2. 2 million barrels of Saudi crude loaded at the Juaymah terminal in early March.
3. Followed the Tehran-approved northern Qeshm-Larak route; cleared the strait on April 28.
4. Destination: Nagoya, Japan — ETA May 18.
5. Japanese refiners have leaned on out-of-Gulf ship-to-ship transfers and U.S. alternative sources during the war.
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