Greek Shipowner Navigates Largest Oil Tanker Through Hormuz Strait
A Greek shipowner dispatched its largest oil supertanker through the Strait of Hormuz since fighting began in the region. The tanker Atokos is a Very Large Crude Carrier with roughly 2 million barrels of capacity.
The vessel signaled its position in the Indian Ocean on Friday, according to Bloomberg tracking data. That transmission suggests the ship crossed Hormuz with its digital transponder switched off.
This move shows how Greek Shipowner Navigates Largest Oil Tanker Through Hormuz Strait amid heightened tensions. The Atokos is managed by Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd.
Dynacom’s passages now sum to about 6.5 million barrels through the strait. That makes the firm the biggest non-Iranian shipper using that route.
Voyage details
The Atokos loaded cargo at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura in early March. It is bound for Zhoushan in China and is due to arrive on May 5.
The vessel signaled the same destination shortly after loading. Its current schedule is roughly six weeks later than the original planned arrival.
Regional impact
Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz handled about 20% of the world’s oil and a similar share of LNG. Transit through the waterway is now largely shuttered.
The disruption has forced some producers to halt output. It has also pushed prices higher for crude and refined fuels like jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline.
Security and responses
The United States this week began a blockade on Iranian shipping. That adds to a blockade Tehran had imposed since the fighting started.
Dynacom did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bloomberg vessel-tracking data underpin this report, summarized here by Filmogaz.com.
