At least three tankers carrying fuel and chemicals have altered their course near the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to foreign media reports.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Marie Sea and the Panama-flagged Red Ruby were initially headed toward the Strait of Hormuz but have since anchored off the coast of Fujairah, near the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the UK-flagged Kohsan Maru has moved closer to Oman’s territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman.
Another fuel tanker, Koswisdom Lake, reportedly entered the Strait of Hormuz on the 22nd but was forced to turn back, according to foreign media sources.
The diversions come amid heightened tensions following the Iranian parliament’s approval to potentially close the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.
Foreign media further report that supertankers transporting fuel and chemicals are increasingly avoiding the strait, as fears grow over the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict. In response to the rising risks, daily charter rates for tankers capable of carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil have surged to USD 60,000 per day, with expectations of further increases if the geopolitical situation deteriorates.
