Two Fully Loaded Iranian Oil Tankers Turn Off Tracking Systems, Successfully Bypass US Blockade to Enter the Arabian Sea

On Wednesday, according to relevant data and satellite images from data intelligence firm Vortexa, two fully loaded very large crude carriers (VLCCs) flying the Iranian flag successfully crossed the maritime blockade line designated by the United States on April 20 and entered the Arabian Sea. This is the latest case of breaking the blockade captured by satellites this week, and also a microcosm of at least 34 Iranian-related oil tankers and gas carriers successfully crossing the Strait of Hormuz since the US launched the blockade.

The two oil tankers that successfully broke the blockade this time can carry a total of up to 4 million barrels of crude oil, which further highlights the limitations of the US operation to block Iran's crude oil exports. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, but at the same time made it clear that the maritime blockade against Iran will continue and no relaxation of control will be allowed.

At present, there are still about 800 ships trapped in the Persian Gulf, unable to navigate normally. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has clearly stated that it is actively formulating an evacuation plan for the trapped ships, but the implementation of the plan still depends on the further de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East, and the specific implementation time cannot be determined for the time being.

Satellite Images Reveal Details of Breaking the Blockade

According to data provided by Vortexa, the two ships that successfully crossed the US blockade line this time are the Hero II and Hedy, both of which are very large crude carriers flying the Iranian flag. To avoid tracking by the US Navy, both ships took the initiative to turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders — this is also the most common evasion method used by various ships trying to bypass maritime blockades, hiding their navigation trajectories by turning off the positioning system.

The Hero II last broadcast its position information to the outside world more than a month ago, when the ship was sailing north along the Strait of Malacca; the Hedy last sent a position signal near Cape Hormuz at the end of February this year. So far, the final destination of the two oil tankers remains unclear. Relevant analysis from Vortexa pointed out that India received two batches of Iranian crude oil before the recent expiration of a US-related exemption policy, and it is not ruled out that the destination of the two oil tankers is related to India.

Blockade Effect Questionable, Multiple Ships Continue to Test Boundaries

Data from Vortexa shows that since the US officially launched the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz at the beginning of last week, at least 34 Iranian-related ships have successfully crossed the strait and the blockade line designated by the US. Among these successfully crossed ships, 19 are sailing out of the Persian Gulf, 17 of which are carrying cargo, delivering a total of about 9 million barrels of crude oil to the global market, further weakening the actual effect of the US blockade.

The blockade line designated by the US Navy extends northeastward from Cape Hadd, near the Omani coastline, to the border between Iran and Pakistan. Although the US Navy has successfully seized one Iranian-related cargo ship and boarded and inspected a sanctioned oil tanker in the sea area east of Sri Lanka since the launch of the blockade, continuously expanding the scope of the blockade operation, a large number of ships still continue to test the blockade boundaries and try to break through the control.

More Ships Approach Hormuz, Tension Persists

In addition to the Hero II and Hedy, multiple ships are currently continuously moving towards the Strait of Hormuz, further intensifying the tense situation in the region. Among them, the G Summer, a small liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier sanctioned by the US, successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Ship tracking data shows that the ship has clearly crossed the boundary line announced by the US Navy for the blockade; the Gambian-flagged cargo ship Lian Star also passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday and is currently sailing along the Iranian coastline, gradually approaching the blockade boundary designated by the US.

Another long-range oil tanker sanctioned by the US, the Atlantis II, started sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz late on Tuesday and has now approached near Larak Island in the strait. So far, it is unclear whether the ship is carrying cargo. In addition, the LPG carrier LPG Sevan is also continuously approaching the Strait of Hormuz. Although the ship's displayed destination is Sharjah Port in the UAE in the Persian Gulf, records show that the ship has previously carried Iranian-related cargo.

According to relevant information from the maritime database Equasis, the ship manager of the Atlantis II is Al Anchor Ship Management FZE of the UAE, and the owner of the ship is consistent with the registered address of Al Anchor; the LPG Sevan is owned and managed by Anka Energy & Logistics Co. of Dubai; another medium-sized oil tanker, the Ocean Jewel, located nearby, has been verified to have no known connection with Iran, and its owner and operator is Ocean Jewel Shipping Co. Ltd. of Shanghai.

In addition, while announcing the indefinite extension of the ceasefire agreement with Iran on Tuesday, Trump once again made it clear that the maritime blockade against Iran will continue and will not be relaxed due to the ceasefire. This statement means that the predicament of the approximately 800 ships currently trapped in the Persian Gulf is difficult to improve in the short term. The International Maritime Organization further stated on Tuesday that it is fully studying an evacuation plan for the trapped ships, but the smooth implementation of the plan depends on whether the situation in the Middle East can achieve substantial de-escalation; otherwise, it will be difficult to advance.

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