KEY POINTS
- One of only handful of vessels leaving the Arabian Gulf since the war began
- Shipping through the strategic waterway has dropped sharply due to security risks
- Conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has disrupted global energy routes
- Strait handles a major share of global oil trade
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani oil tanker appears to have successfully cleared the Strait of Hormuz, becoming one of only a small number of vessels to exit the Arabian Gulf since hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran intensified earlier this month.
Ship-tracking data indicate that the Pakistani-flagged tanker has made a successful pass through the narrow maritime chokepoint.
It is now heading toward Pakistan after loading crude oil in the Gulf, highlighting the severe disruption to commercial shipping in the region.
The vessel is among only a handful of tankers which have managed to leave the Gulf since the outbreak of the conflict.
Most commercial ships are avoiding the route because of heightened security risks and fears of missile or drone attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz — a critical corridor linking the Arabian Gulf to the open ocean — is one of the most strategically important energy routes in the world.
Under normal conditions, roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil passes through the narrow waterway.
Shipping traffic through the strait has fallen sharply since the crisis began, with many vessels delaying departures, rerouting or remaining anchored at regional ports due to the deteriorating security environment.
The disruption follows military strikes by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran, which triggered retaliatory attacks.
The escalating war in the Middle East has raised fears that maritime routes in the Gulf could become a target in the escalating confrontation.
Energy analysts warn that prolonged disruption to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could tighten global oil supplies and increase volatility in international energy markets.
For Pakistan, which imports most of its crude oil from producers in the Arabian Gulf, uninterrupted passage through the strait remains vital to ensure stable energy supplies and avoid domestic fuel shortages.
