The Suezmax Shenlong successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz on 8 March 2026, becoming the first major tanker to carry non-Iranian crude through the waterway since a de facto blockade began on 28 February.
Suezmax Shenlong, managed by Athens-based Dynacom Tankers Management.
The tanker loaded approximately 1.1 million barrels of Saudi Arabian crude at the Juaymah Crude Terminal (near Ras Tanura) on 1 March.
To evade potential targeting, the vessel switched off its AIS transponder on 4 March while approaching the Strait and remained “dark” until it reappeared near the Indian coastline on 10 March.
The cargo is bound for Mumbai, India.
Freight costs for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) from the Middle East to Asia spiked to record highs, with some charter fees reportedly tripling to roughly $20 per barrel (or $158.63/mt) as insurers scrapped war-risk cover.
Despite the Shenlong’s passage, overall tanker traffic through the Strait has dropped by over 90% since hostilities escalated, with roughly 289 million barrels of Gulf crude previously estimated to be stalled behind the chokepoint.
Following the Shenlong’s successful transit, the US and several allies (including France and the UK) have announced plans for naval escort missions to encourage more commercial vessels to resume sailings.
Note by Alessandro Bazzoni