Oil finds its way: Supertankers return to Persian Gulf

Supertankers are steadily returning to the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz after days of disruption triggered by the Iran conflict, signalling renewed confidence among shipowners in the world's most critical oil transit route as hostilities ease, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing Kpler shipping data.

Around 24 commodity vessels—including crude oil tankers, liquefied natural gas carriers and bulk ships—passed through the Strait of Hormuz in both directions on Monday, according to the shipping data. The recovery extended into Tuesday, when a supertanker reappeared inside the Persian Gulf alongside several smaller vessels, pointing to a gradual normalisation of traffic after a sharp slowdown following attacks on commercial shipping.

Also read: Hormuz traffic eases; Iran revives crude supply pitch to India

The oil tankers making the transit have a combined carrying capacity of roughly 11 million barrels of crude, highlighting the significance of the rebound for global energy markets. Tanker movements through the waterway had fallen after an initial attack on a container ship last Thursday heightened security concerns for vessels operating in the region.


The improvement comes after the US carried out fresh strikes on Iran in response to the ship attacks before both countries agreed to halt hostilities ahead of peace talks scheduled for this week. The return of tankers is being closely watched by traders, shipowners and oil markets, as uninterrupted access through the Strait of Hormuz is vital for crude exports from Gulf producers.

South Korean and Greek tankers resume Gulf voyages

Among the vessels entering the Persian Gulf on Monday were three empty very large crude carriers (VLCCs) operated by South Korea's Sinokor. The ships openly transmitted their positions while sailing along Oman's coast before entering the Gulf, Bloomberg reported.

A fourth tanker operated by Sinokor—one that shipping database Equasis says officially joined the company's fleet in April—also began broadcasting its position from inside the Gulf, indicating it is likely headed towards Iraq's Basrah oil export terminal.

Bloomberg also reported that a Marshall Islands-flagged Suezmax tanker, built in 2026 and owned by a Greek operator, appeared inside the Persian Gulf in what seems to be its first voyage into the region since the conflict began in late February. The vessel is currently waiting off Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, apparently awaiting further instructions. It had last transmitted its location from the Gulf of Oman on June 27, suggesting it may have crossed the Strait of Hormuz with its transponder switched off.

Also read: Iran warns ships not to bypass its chosen Hormuz route

Bahri continues sending supertankers

Saudi Arabia's National Shipping Co., better known as Bahri, also continued sending large crude carriers into the Gulf. Its empty VLCC Nisalah completed an inbound transit and is currently positioned off Ras Tanura, home to Saudi Arabia's largest oil refinery, according to the Bloomberg report.

Bahri had already begun cautiously increasing tanker deployments before the latest recovery in traffic, with four of its supertankers appearing near Ras Tanura last week.

The return of large oil tankers to the Persian Gulf suggests shipping operators are becoming more comfortable navigating the Strait of Hormuz after the recent conflict, although markets remain alert to any renewed escalation that could again threaten one of the world's busiest energy corridors.