Tanker makes rare transit through Strait of Hormuz amid Middle East tensions, sources say

SINGAPORE: An ​oil tanker sailed through the Strait of ​Hormuz on Tuesday, heading to a United Arab Emirates port to load crude in a rare voyage since ‌the Iran war ⁠disrupted ⁠shipping in the Middle East, according to industry sources ​and shiptracking data.

Suezmax tanker Pola switched off its AIS ​tracker late on March 2, when it approached the Strait, and re-appeared on March 3 off ​Abu Dhabi, LSEG data showed.

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The ⁠vessel is ‌heading to the port of ​Jebel Dhanna ​to load Abu Dhabi Murban crude ⁠for Thailand, said two trade sources, who spoke ​on condition of anonymity as the ​matter is a sensitive one.

Dynacom Tankers which manages the vessel could not be immediately reached for comment outside office hours.

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran halted energy exports from the Middle ‌East, with Tehran attacking ships and energy facilities, closing navigation in the Gulf ​and forcing ​production stoppages in ⁠countries from Qatar to Iraq.

Crude tanker transits through the strait fell to four vessels on March 1, ​the day after hostilities broke out, versus an average of 24 a day since January, Vortexa vessel-tracking data showed.