Against the backdrop of the crisis in the Middle East, a Japanese and a Turkish ship crossed the Strait of Hormuz in recent hours, which Iran has kept closed since February 28 and the start of the American-Israeli attack against it. Specifically, the closure of the Strait has caused energy prices to skyrocket globally and has particularly hit Asian markets. Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines announced today that an Indian-flagged tanker owned by a subsidiary of the company crossed the Strait of Hormuz heading toward India. This is the third Japan-linked vessel to cross the Strait.
Ships that have crossed the Strait of Hormuz
A Mitsui OSK Lines spokesperson told AFP that the Green Asha, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, crossed the Strait. “The crew and cargo are safe,” they clarified. On Saturday, the Indian government announced that the Green Sanvi LNG vessel, also owned by a Mitsui OSK subsidiary, safely crossed the Strait. The day before, three tankers, including one of Japanese ownership, had crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
The Sohar LNG vessel, also owned by Mitsui OSK, was the first LNG carrier to cross the Strait since March 1. From Ankara, Transportation Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that a third ship owned by a Turkish shipowner also crossed the Strait. “Thanks to our joint efforts with the Foreign Ministry, the Turkish vessel Ocean Thunder, bound for Malaysia and carrying oil loaded in Iraq, crossed the Strait of Hormuz unimpeded last night,” the minister announced via X.
According to the Marine Traffic website, the Panama-flagged Ocean Thunder had departed from the Iraqi port of Basra. According to Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, eight ships owned by Turkish shipowners are waiting to receive permission to cross the Strait. A first Turkish-owned vessel crossed the Strait on March 13 and a second on Saturday, April 4, “with Iran’s permission.”
“We continue our efforts without interruption for the safe passage of our eight ships and their 156 crew members who want to leave the zone,” added the Turkish Transportation Minister. The few ships that have made the crossing have followed a route approved by Iran through Iranian territorial waters, sailing past Larak Island, which has been renamed “Tehran’s toll booth” by Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
