Four VLCCs appeared to have diverted the area in the hours after the Israeli-US attacks on Iran: Orbiter (IMO 9876438), Universal Victor (IMO 9837638), Mitake (IMO 9607863) and Trikwong Venture (IMO 9534858), reported Kpler. All the tankers were in ballast. Collectively the tankers represent 1.1m tonnes (8m barrels) of crude that was scheduled to be loaded between March 3rd and March 7th.
“So far we have noticed some spoofing activities taking place in the area, even though these are not widespread yet,” said Homayoun Falakshahi, Head of Crude Oil Analysis at Kpler. “We are also seeing some tankers being parked just outside of the entrance of the Persian Gulf and a lot of them stopping their movement from entering the Strait of Hormuz. Lots of tankers are just waiting outside the Gulf right now.”
Meanwhile VLCC KHK Empress (IMO 9830965) was part loaded with Omani crude and heading through the Strait of Hormuz for Basra when it made a U-turn and headed back toward the Arabian Sea. The vessel’s destination was changed from Basra to New Mangalore in India, where it was expected to arrive on Monday March 2nd.
In the Persian Gulf, the oil tanker Eagle Veracruz (IMO: 9933626), heading for China with 2m barrels of Saudi crude, has come to a halt at the western approach to the Strait of Hormuz. Suezmax tanker Front Shanghai (IMO 9832262), carrying about 1m barrels of Iraqi crude to Rotterdam, has also stopped off Sharjah, according to tracking data.
A build-up in vessels halting voyages toward Hormuz from the east had been going on for most of the week, tanker tracking data compiled by Bloomberg showed.
About 13m bpd of crude oil was moved through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025. The waterway accounts for around 31% of global seaborne crude flows.
At 10:00 UTC time Saturday February 28th two Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) spoofing cases were detected near Iran. Four hours later the Strait of Hormuz saw an approximate 20% to 25% drop in traffic.
“From around 15:30 UTC onwards the majority of vessels in the area either performed U-turns, began idling, or diverted toward alternative routes outside the Strait,” said Dimitris Ampatzidis, senior risk and compliance analyst at Kpler, adding that “compared to 10-to-12 hours earlier, overall traffic reduction in the region is already about 75%”.
However, it was thought likely that the effective closure would be short-lived . US air and naval superiority would be able to establish a level of security that would enable commercial shipping to resume transportation in and out of the Persian Gulf
For containers, about 135,000 teu were identified as in transit in the region, with a total estimated cargo value of just under $4bn.
Ben Tracey Vizion’s vice president of strategic business development, said that “for containers that are destined for the US or Europe, only 22,000 teu, with an estimated cargo value of $877m.
UK-based global maritime safety, security and operational support services group Ambrey said in a circular that “Iran commences retaliation against early morning joint US-Iran strikes. Targets presently limited to military assets. Strongly affiliated shipping assessed to be at heightened risk is advised to shelter in territorial seas and avoid transits through the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, southern Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden”.
The US established a maritime warning zone in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz. Jakob Larsen, Chief Safety & Security Officer at BIMCO, said that “the establishment of the warning zone is intended to provide notice that dangerous military operations are taking place from within these locations and the U.S. Navy cannot guarantee the safety of neutral or merchant shipping. Commercial shipping is advised to navigate with caution and avoid navigation within this zone, if possible.”
Xeneta’s chief Shipping analyst Peter Sand warned in a note to clients that the military operation would see further weaponization of trade. “Any plans for a phased return of container shipping to the Red Sea in 2026 will be shelved until the security situation becomes clearer”, said Sand. He noted that ocean freight rates that were collapsing at a global level were now ticking back up. “What we have seen in Xeneta data is rising short term market rates through Strait of Hormuz for 10 days now. Average spot rates from China to UAE have ticked up 5% since 15 February to stand at $1,572 per FEU, no doubt pushed up by concerns over the security situation and shippers being worried about their goods getting in and out of ports in the Persian Gulf”.
Sand warned that, should the Persian Gulf become off limits for any period of time, there was no viable alternative for containerships to call at ports such as Jebel Ali, so carriers instead would omit these calls on east-west services. “Instead, the carriers will drop boxes at a least-worst alternative port for onward transportation by road. This will cause severe disruption and port congestion at a regional level, but will not have a major impact on a global scale when compared to the seismic influence of conflict in the Red Sea.”
2021-built, Liberia-flagged, 160,087 gt Orbiter is owned by Cypress Maritime Panama SA care of Shoei Kisen KK of Imabari, Ehime, Japan. It is managed by Navios Tankers Management Inc of Piraeus, Greece. It is entered with Gard P&I on behalf of Cypress Maritime (Panama) SA. As of March 1st the Orbiter was in the Oman Gulf, en route from Anegasaki, Japan (departed February 7th), awaiting orders.
2019-built, South Korea-flagged, 156,331 gt Universal Victor is owned and managed by HMM Co Ltd of Seoul, South Korea. ISM manager is HMM Ocean Service Co Ltd of Busan, South Korea. It is entered with NorthStandard on behalf of HMM Co Ltd. As of March 1st the Universal Victor was in the Oman Gulf, listed as en route to Mesaiseed, Qatar (ETA March 1st), having departed Halung, Taiwan on February 6th.
2012-built, Panama-flagged, 160,416 gt Mitake is owned by Extol Shipping SA care of manager Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd of Tokyo, Japan. ISM manager is MOL Global Ship Management Pte of Singapore. It is entered with UK Club on behalf of Extol Shipping. As of March 1st the 333m x 60m Mitake was in the Arabian Gulf, listed as en route from Kawasaki, Japan (departed February 8th) to Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, ETA March 5th.
2012-built, Hong Kong-flagged, 157,225 gt Trikwong Venture is owned by Trikwong Maritime Inc care of manager Wah Kwong Ship Management (HK) Ltd of Hong Kong, China. It is entered with Britannia on behalf of Trikwong Maritime Inc. As of March 1st the 330m x 50m Trikwong Venture was listed as east of Oman, underway from Pengerang, Malaysia (departed February 15th) to Mina Al Hahi, Oman (ETA March 3rd)
2019-built, Singapore-flagged, 160,682 gt KHK Empress is owned by Centenary Carriers Pte Ltd care of manager Tai Chong Cheang Steamship HK of Hong Kong, China. It is entered with Gard AS on behalf of Centenary Carriers Pte Ltd. As of March 1st the KHK Empress was in the Oman Gulf listed as en route from Mina Al Fahi, Oman (departed February 27th to Mangalore, India (ETA March 2nd).
2024-built, Singapore-flagged, 156,186 gt Eagle Veracruz is owned by AET Tankers VLCC V Pte Ltd care of manager AET Tankers Pte Ltd of Singapore. ISM manager is MISC Shipmanagement S Pte of Singapore. It is entered with Britannia on behalf of AET Tankers VLCC V Pte Ltd. As of March 1st it was in the Dubai area, listed as Stopped at Dubai Anchorage.
2019-built, Hong Kong-flagged, 82,305 gt Front Shanghai is owned by Sea 329 Leasing Co Ltd care of Frontline Management AS of Oslo, Norway. ISM manager is Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd of Limassol, Cyprus. It is entered with NorthStandard on behalf of White Flag Ventures XLIV LLC. As of March 1st the 275m x 48.04m Front Shanghai was listed as underway in the Persian Gulf en route to Dubai Anchorage (ETA March 1st) having left Al Basrah, Iraq on February 27th