Oman-Flagged Tankers Navigate Strait of Hormuz, Employing Southern Route

New Passage Through Hormuz: Omani Vessels Chart a Different Course

In a significant development reflecting the evolving maritime landscape of a crucial global artery, three vessels reportedly flying the flag of Oman appear to have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, diverging from the established northern route through Iranian waters. External broadcast data indicates that two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and one Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier have adopted a novel transit path. All three vessels are managed by an Omani maritime management company, underscoring their declared Omani affiliation.

Transit Details and the Southern Deviation

According to Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals broadcast by the vessels, they were observed heading east through the strait on Thursday. The LNG carrier 'Sohar', with a deadweight tonnage of 72,000, was detected underway. This vessel, built in 2001 and currently registered in Panama, has been under the ownership of Asyad Shipping since 2005.

AIS data, corroborated by satellite imagery from TankerTrackers.com, confirmed the LNG carrier positioned between the two Omani crude oil tankers. The VLCC 'Dhalkut', registered under the Marshall Islands flag with a capacity of 299,997 deadweight tons, was at the forefront of this formation, with its last AIS signal showing it rounding the Omani peninsula. Trailing behind was the VLCC 'Habrut', also flying the Marshall Islands flag and with a deadweight tonnage of 319,439.

Media reports indicated that these vessels ceased transmitting their automatic position signals around 16:30 Beijing time on Thursday, at a point when they were approaching or had just rounded the tip of Oman's Musandam Peninsula, which juts northward into the strait. While it remains unclear if the vessels completed their passage, a typical transit takes several hours. The complexity of tracking vessels entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz is further compounded by intense signal jamming and spoofing in the region.

Vessel Cargo and Divergent Routing

Tracking data suggests that the crude oil tankers were each laden with approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil, while the LNG carrier appeared to be empty. One of the tankers loaded its cargo in late February from Saudi Arabia, with its listed destination being the Myanmar port of Kyaukpyu, where a pipeline transports crude oil to other nations. The second tanker was transporting crude oil from Abu Dhabi to an undisclosed destination.

The route employed by these three vessels lies south of the designated shipping lanes within the strait (marked in orange on the map), diverging from the more northerly route (marked in yellow) that most vessels leaving the Persian Gulf have recently utilized, situated between Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands.

Shipping Developments and Diplomatic Engagements

The Strait of Hormuz has been largely under blockade since the onset of the conflict. However, Iran has begun negotiating passage with select vessels linked to friendly nations, which had previously adhered to the established northern route through its territorial waters. This northern route is typically associated with Iran's requirement for transit approvals and associated fees. Yet, due to shallower waters and tighter turns, this path may not be suitable for the largest tankers.

On Thursday, Iran's state media, IRNA, quoted Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, stating that Tehran is drafting an agreement with Oman to monitor shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Oman's stance on these remarks remains unclear.

Meanwhile, the list of countries facilitating shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is reportedly growing. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs stated on Thursday that it had completed talks with Iran. The Philippines indicated that Iran had agreed to allow vessels flying the Philippine flag to transit and to ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers. The country also stated that it would be permitted to receive oil transported through the strait, a critical point given the Philippines' reliance on Saudi Arabia for fuel imports.

Impact on Energy Markets

Javier Blas, a Bloomberg energy and commodities reporter, stated on X on Thursday that "all signs point to at least 4 million barrels of crude oil flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz today," marking the largest single-day outflow since the U.S.-Iran conflict began. Analysts at TankerTrackers.com had previously stated on Wednesday that "to our knowledge, no LNG carrier transited the Strait of Hormuz outbound in March 2026. For the entire month of March 2026, only 84 tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz outbound from the Middle East, which is less than three per day."

The de facto closure of this vital waterway has disrupted global energy markets, driving up prices and placing increasing international pressure on U.S. President Trump. Iran has also sought to establish a toll system, aiming to charge up to $2 million for each transit of the waterway.

The passage of these three vessels is particularly noteworthy as they belong to the largest classes of tankers and represent the first LNG carriers attempting to depart the Gulf since the conflict escalated. Their new transit routes signify the resilience and adaptability of global maritime trade in navigating complex geopolitical challenges.