Japan-Bound Oil Tanker Clears Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions

Energy News Beat

In a notable development for global energy markets still reeling from disruptions in the Persian Gulf, a Japan-bound crude oil tanker has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, identified as the Eneos Endeavor and owned by Japanese refiner Eneos, is the second Japan-bound tanker to clear the critical chokepoint since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began at the end of February 2026.

According to tracking data, the Eneos Endeavor is carrying approximately 1.2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude and 700,000 barrels of Emirati crude, loaded in late February. Like many vessels navigating the region amid heightened risks, the tanker switched off its transponder while passing through the strait—a now-common practice to avoid detection by Iranian forces.

This passage comes against the backdrop of Iran’s strict control over the waterway, where traffic has been severely restricted since the onset of the conflict. Iranian authorities have seized vessels and imposed selective approvals for safe passage, contributing to a massive backlog of ships and significant supply chain strains for oil-importing nations like Japan, which relies on Middle Eastern crude for about 95% of its refinery feedstocks. Roughly 70% of those supplies historically arrived via tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tanker Traffic Snapshot: Last Three Months (Mid-February to Mid-May 2026)

The Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles around 100 commercial vessels per day (including 80+ oil and gas tankers) and roughly 20.9 million barrels per day of oil flows pre-conflict, has seen traffic collapse by more than 95% since late February.

Key data points from shipping analytics firms (Kpler, LSEG, Lloyd’s List Intelligence, and others):

From February 28 to April 12, 2026: Approximately 279 ships transited the strait in total (far below the pre-war daily average of ~100).

March 2026: Around 220 vessel transits overall, with liquid tankers (including some oil) accounting for ~51%, dry bulk ~37%, and LPG carriers ~12%. No LNG carriers were reported in March.

April 2026: Traffic remained minimal, with occasional daily highs of 20+ vessels but frequent days of single-digit or zero transits for large tankers. One analysis noted 191 vessels in April overall.

Recent weeks (late April to mid-May): Modest uptick, with one week seeing ~48 cargo vessels over 10,000 dwt (still <10% of normal). Oil tanker transits have averaged low single digits on many days, often with AIS transponders disabled.

Origins and Destinations: Precise country-by-country breakdowns for every tanker are not fully aggregated publicly due to dark fleet practices and selective routing, but available data shows cargoes primarily loaded from Gulf exporters (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait) heading to Asian markets (Japan, China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Pakistan). Examples include Iraqi and Emirati crude on recent supertankers, as well as limited UAE/Qatar-origin cargoes. Passages often require case-by-case Iranian approval, with some tied to diplomatic arrangements.

Overall, large oil tanker transits (above 10,000 dwt) remain a tiny fraction of pre-war volumes—likely fewer than 200-300 successful oil-related crossings in the full three-month window versus thousands normally expected. Hundreds of vessels, including loaded tankers carrying millions of barrels, remain anchored or trapped in the Persian Gulf.

Oil Slick Off Kharg Island: Infrastructure Strain or Accidental Release?

Compounding concerns about Iranian oil operations, satellite imagery from early May 2026 revealed a large oil slick spreading in the Persian Gulf off Kharg Island—Iran’s primary crude export terminal and loading hub. The slick covered more than 20 square miles and may have involved 3,000+ barrels of oil.

Iran’s Oil Terminals Company has denied any leaks from its storage tanks, pipelines, or facilities, attributing the incident to ballast water discharge from a non-Iranian tanker. Independent analysts, however, point to potential pipeline issues (Kharg’s infrastructure is aging) or broader strain from the U.S. naval blockade and conflict-related disruptions. There is no evidence of deliberate “opening of pipes” by Iranian authorities; the event appears linked to maintenance challenges or accidental discharge amid reduced operations.

The slick has raised environmental alarms and questions about the long-term reliability of Iranian export infrastructure under current pressures.

LNG and LPG Updates: Limited but Critical Passages

While crude oil movements dominate headlines, LNG and LPG traffic has also been heavily curtailed:

LNG: Near-total halt for fully laden carriers in the initial months. The first notable post-conflict fully loaded LNG tanker (UAE’s ADNOC-chartered Mubaraz, loaded at Das Island) crossed in late April/early May 2026. Recent activity includes Qatari LNG tankers (e.g., Al Kharaitiyat and Mihzem) transiting to Pakistan under approved arrangements.

LPG: More activity than LNG, with selective clearances. India has successfully escorted multiple LPG carriers (including Green Asha, Green Sanvi, Tara Gas, Shivalik, and others) out of the Gulf, completing operations for ~15 stranded vessels by mid-May via diplomatic and naval support. These shipments are vital for the Indian domestic supply.

These energy product movements remain ad-hoc, highlighting how the Strait—responsible for ~20% of global LNG pre-conflict—continues to throttle supplies despite occasional breakthroughs.

Outlook

The successful transit of the Eneos Endeavor provides modest relief for Japan but underscores the fragility of global energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. With traffic still a shadow of normal levels and infrastructure risks evident (as seen at Kharg), markets remain on edge. Continued diplomacy will be key to restoring reliable passage and stabilizing prices.

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