Japan-linked tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz for first time since War

Tokyo: The Panama-flagged tanker Idemitsu Maru, carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude, has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first Japan-linked oil tanker to do so since the Iran war began, according to LSEG shipping data on Tuesday.

Before the U.S.-Iran conflict erupted on February 28, disrupting Middle East oil and LNG supplies, Japan sourced about 95% of its crude imports from the region, much of it via Hormuz.

The development comes amid efforts by Japan to secure energy supplies following disruptions caused by the conflict.


Earlier in April, the Sohar LNG tanker - co-owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines - and the Mitsui-owned LPG tanker Green Sanvi also crossed the strait.


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Idemitsu Maru, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), is managed by a unit of Idemitsu Kosan, which declined to comment on individual vessels.

Hormuz traffic remains subdued

Traffic through Hormuz remains sharply lower. Before February 28, around 125-140 ships transited the strait daily; in the past 24 hours, only seven vessels were recorded, according to Kpler and SynMax data.