Iraq-Bound Tanker Sails Into Gulf After Second Attempt at Hormuz
Tankers are seen off the coast of the Fujairah, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
Iraq-Bound Tanker Sails Into Gulf After Second Attempt at Hormuz
Bloomberg
Total Views: 1608
April 15, 2026
By Weilun Soon (Bloomberg) –Iraq-bound supertanker
Agios Fanourios
I has sailed into the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on its second attempt, making it the first crude carrier to head west since a US blockade on Iran’s ports came into force.
Traffic through the chokepoint remains extremely limited. Some ships that made it through the narrow waterway and out into the Gulf of Oman as the blockade was put in place ultimately aborted their journeys and retraced their routes — including the US-sanctioned
Rich Starry.
U.S. says Hormuz blockade ‘fully implemented,’ while signaling diplomatic off-ramp for Iran
says Hormuz blockade ‘fully implemented,’ while signaling diplomatic off-ramp for Iran
in
International Shipping News
15/04/2026
The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is now fully into effect, “completely” cutting off Tehran’s international sea trade that powers about 90% of its economy, the U.S. Central Command said late Tuesday stateside.
The announcement comes at a time when the White House has been signaling a diplomatic solution to the conflict in the Middle East, as discussions around continuing negotiations with Tehran are underway.
“A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as U.S.
China Moves to Block Entrance to Disputed South China Sea Shoal, Images Show
A satellite image of fishing vessels at the entrance, which is blocked by a floating barrier, to the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea, April 11, 2026. Vantor/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO.
China Moves to Block Entrance to Disputed South China Sea Shoal, Images Show
Reuters
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April 15, 2026
By Greg Torode and Karen Lema
HONG KONG/MANILA, April 15 (Reuters) – China is employing ships and a barrier to tighten control of the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea amid roiling tension with the Philippines over the disputed feature, satellite imagery obtained by Reuters shows.
Scarborough is one of Asia’s most hotly disputed maritime sites, where some diplomats and analysts fear
long-running
frictions and confrontations could degenerate into armed conflict.
The presence of four fishing boats, a Chinese naval or coast guard ship and a new floating barrier comes as the Philippines sends
OneCare Group responds to Strait of Hormuz crisis, strengthening support for stranded seafarers
OneCare Group responds to Strait of Hormuz crisis, strengthening support for stranded seafarers
in
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
Leading health and wellbeing provider OneCare Group is working closely with shipping companies to support seafarers impacted by the escalating war situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime transit has been severely disrupted amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The continued disruption, driven by heightened regional tensions and security threats, has created a prolonged period of uncertainty for crews operating in one of the world’s most strategically critical maritime corridors. With vessels being effectively immobilised since February, seafarers have been facing extended tours of duty, restricted movement, and growing concerns over both their personal safety and the wellbeing of their families back home. Despite a fragile ceasefire and ongoing international efforts to stabilise the region, conditions for commercial shipping remain highly unc
Strait of Hormuz traffic dips as US enacts blockade
Strait of Hormuz traffic dips as US enacts blockade
in
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
A dozen vessels transited the contested Strait of Hormuz April 13, a drop of seven transits from the day before, as the US blockade of Iran’s ports came into effect, according to an April 14 report from S&P Global’s Commodities At Sea.
Most of those ships clung to the confines of Iranian territorial waters, the report said, after Iran advised vessels to use a specific pathway inside its territorial waters because anti-ship mines were present.
Six oil and chemical tankers transited the strait on April 13, four of which are sanctioned by the US, CAS data showed.
Windward analyst Ami Daniel wrote in a LinkedIn post that a US-sanctioned Handysize tanker, after initially reversing course, eventually left the Strait of Hormuz in what he said was “first indication” of Iranian output moving out of the Gulf after the announcement of the US blockade.
Eight ships left the Strait of Hormuz April 13, while
Double Blockade Keeps Hormuz Shipping at Fraction of Peace Level
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. (DDG 121) sails in the Arabian Sea during Operation Epic Fury, March 18, 2026. Navy photo)
Double Blockade Keeps Hormuz Shipping at Fraction of Peace Level
Bloomberg
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April 15, 2026
By Julian Lee and Prejula Prem (Bloomberg) — Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that’s become a focal point for the global economy, stayed far below peacetime levels as an effective double
blockade
stifles vessel movements.
The number of commercial ships observed sailing through the strait stood at 11 on Tuesday, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Iran War Pushes U.S. to Brink of Net Oil Exporter Status Not Seen Since WWII
The oil tanker Theo T departs the port of Corpus Christi with the first export cargo of US crude oil after the United States government repealed a 40-year ban on the export of crude oil in December 2015. Picture taken December 31, 2015. Photo credit: Port of Corpus Christi
Iran War Pushes U.S.
US-Sanctioned Supertankers Enter Gulf Despite Blockade
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. (DDG 121) sails in the Arabian Sea during Operation Epic Fury, March 18, 2026. Navy photo)
US-Sanctioned Supertankers Enter Gulf Despite Blockade
Reuters
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April 16, 2026
By Florence Tan
SINGAPORE, April 16 (Reuters) – A second U.S.-sanctioned supertanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, shipping data showed, despite a U.S.
Energy prices set to rise as last Gulf Tankers reach Europe, analysts say
Energy prices set to rise as last Gulf Tankers reach Europe, analysts say
in
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
Energy analysts have warned of surging energy prices beyond already elevated levels, as the last vessels carrying oil and natural gas from the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict have reached Europe. Supply forecasts for oil and gas remain optimistic as US deliveries are expected.
Europe should prepare for a renewed surge in energy prices, as the last oil and LNG tankers to depart the Strait of Hormuz before the Middle East conflict have now reached their destinations, analysts warned.
EU countries have been relying on emergency oil reserves released by the International Energy Agency on 11 March, after losing supply to Asian buyers willing to pay more for the last cargoes leaving the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is a critical waterway that accounted for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG transit before the Middle East conflict.
The warning from analysts comes
US blockade on Iranian ports unlikely to impact container traffic through Strait of Hormuz
US blockade on Iranian ports unlikely to impact container traffic through Strait of Hormuz
in
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
US president Donald Trump on Sunday ordered a military blockade of Iranian ports, increasing the tension around the Strait of Hormuz, but shipping market intelligence firm Linerlytica expects the impact on container shipping to be negligible.
“The US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting from 13 April will further escalate the current tensions but the impact on the container shipping market is negligible as vessel traffic has been largely limited to Iranian linked ships over the past six weeks with just four outbound passages made by neutral operators since the war started on 28 February,” Linerlytica said.
Outside of the Middle East, container freight rates have corrected from their initial post-war peaks due to the lack of any space or equipment shortages, and cargo demand is starting to weaken given the macro-economic uncertainties that the w