By Florence Tan and Jonathan Saul
SINGAPORE/LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) – Two tankers linked to Iran left the Gulf on Monday as many vessels began to steer clear of the Strait of Hormuz. This came after the U.S. announced plans to blockade Iranian ports later that day, causing concerns in shipping markets at this crucial energy passageway.
This development followed the collapse of negotiations over the weekend between the U.S. and Iran. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the U.S. Navy would enforce a blockade on all vessels going in and out of Iranian ports, although he clarified that the transit through the strait itself would not be restricted.
The announcement led to a slowdown in oil tanker movements in the strait, with only two Iranian-linked tankers departing the Gulf. Under normal conditions, tanker shipments from Iranian ports usually head to China, with India also recently purchasing Iranian crude.
The tanker Auroura is carrying Iranian oil products, while the New Future vessel has diesel from the Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates and is on its way to Sohar, Oman. Both of these are medium-range tankers that carry about 330,000 barrels of oil.
The U.S. Central Command announced that the blockade for all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports would begin at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) on Monday.
The blockade would be enforced fairly against all nations’ vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, according to their statement on X.
However, they emphasized that U.S. forces would not obstruct navigation for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, and they would provide additional updates to commercial mariners before the blockade starts.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned on Sunday that any military ships approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be seen as a breach of the ceasefire and would be dealt with severely and decisively.
PAKISTANI TANKERS ENTERING THE GULF
Before Trump's announcement, two Pakistan-flagged tankers, Shalamar and Khairpur, entered the Gulf on Sunday, according to data from LSEG and Kpler.
The Aframax tanker Shalamar is headed for the United Arab Emirates on Monday to load Das crude, while the Panamax-sized Khairpur is en route to Kuwait to load refined products.
The management company of Shalamar, Pakistan National Shipping, did not reply to requests for comment outside of business hours.
The Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) Mombasa B, which crossed the strait earlier on Sunday, is currently sailing empty in the Gulf toward Basra, Iraq.
The Malta-flagged VLCC Agios Fanourios I, which tried to enter the Gulf on Sunday to load Iraqi Basra crude for Vietnam, has turned back and is now anchored near the Gulf of Oman, with plans to go to Iraq.
Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, the manager of Agios Fanourios I, did not respond to a request for comment.
CMB.TECH NV, listed as the manager of Mombasa B in LSEG data, stated they no longer manage the ship. The current manager, Sinokor, has not responded to requests for comment.
Despite the ongoing tensions, three supertankers filled with oil successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first vessels to leave the Gulf since the ceasefire agreement was established last week.
For more information about the Strait of Hormuz, visit: https://tmsnrt.rs/4cnyln1