LONDON: A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, managed by Japan’s leading refining group Eneos, has successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data from LSEG on Thursday.
This marks the second recorded instance of a Japan-linked vessel making the passage through the strategically sensitive waterway in recent times.
Prior to the disruption of oil flows caused by the US–Israel war on Iran, Japan depended heavily on the Gulf region for its energy requirements, sourcing approximately 95% of its crude oil imports from the area.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, remains vital for global energy transportation, particularly for Asian economies.
According to Kpler vessel tracking data, the Eneos-managed tanker is transporting around 1.2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude oil along with 700,000 barrels of Emirati Das Blend crude. These cargoes were loaded in late February before the vessel began its onward journey towards Japan.
The tanker is currently expected to arrive in Japan on 3 June, as per Kpler’s estimated schedule. However, it remains unclear under what specific arrangements or security assurances the vessel was able to pass through the Strait amid heightened regional tensions.
Eneos, Japan’s largest refining company, has declined to comment on the transit or operational details surrounding the voyage, according to Reuters.
The development comes at a time when global markets are closely monitoring shipping routes in the Gulf, as any disruption through the Strait of Hormuz can have significant implications for international oil supply chains and energy prices.
