\u2014 Windward (@WindwardAI) June 23, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Vortexa data also confirmed that the week ending June 21 marked Iran\u2019s strongest crude export week in nearly two months.<\/p>\n Hormuz traffic has accelerated sharply over the past week, according to Vortexa. In the last seven days, 133 transits were recorded, compared with 53 the previous week.<\/p>\n Claire Jungman, Director of Maritime Risk & Intelligence at Vortexa, told gCaptain that Iranian-linked vessels are not driving overall traffic through the strait.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recent surge is mostly Gulf NOC tonnage returning as the blockade unwinds,\u201d Jungman said. \u201cIran-linked vessels have actually fallen as a share of throughput every month, from roughly 69% in March to about 18% in June, because mainstream volume is now diluting what was a largely Iranian and sanctioned flow during the blockade.\u201d<\/p>\n Where Iran-linked vessels do dominate is on the China oil trade route.<\/p>\n \u201cIran-linked vessels account for about three-quarters of the China-bound laden tankers leaving via Hormuz,\u201d Jungman said. \u201cChina is the clear number one destination for outbound laden crude and products, followed by India and the UAE.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Vortexa, much of the volume associated with the UAE and Oman consists of ship-to-ship transfers.<\/p>\n The southern route along Omani waters is widely viewed as the preferred transit corridor because it is not subject to the same Iranian approval process.<\/p>\n Windward identified three Iran-flagged VLCCs loaded with approximately 4.89 million barrels of crude at Kharg Island between June 20 and June 22. All three vessels are bound for China and were tracked transiting the Strait between June 22 and June 23. A fourth dark VLCC also departed carrying an estimated 2 million barrels.<\/p>\n At least four recent transits over the past two days have used the Iranian route.<\/p>\n Despite signs of a gradual reopening, some tanker owners and operators say the risk remains too great.<\/p>\n \u201cTo take unmitigated liability risk here is not something owners are readily willing and able to do,\u201d said Jake Scott, chief operating officer of Easterly Clear Ocean. \u201cYou\u2019ve got crew members on board. Last week, ships were hit by drones. It\u2019s still a fluid situation that everyone\u2019s keeping an eye on. We take it day by day.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott said insurance remains one of the biggest obstacles for vessel owners considering a transit.<\/p>\n \u201cThe insurance for some of these larger vessels is absurd,\u201d Scott said. \u201cYou\u2019re talking about $10 million just to get a ship out, and that\u2019s only the insurance premium. The master ultimately has the final say on whether to transit the strait, so if you\u2019re going to go through, he needs to be compensated, and so does the crew for the additional risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Easterly has no vessels stranded in the Middle East, although tankers owned by Womar, a company in which Easterly has an interest, remain in the region.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve gotten a few out when we were able to secure the insurance, but for some owners, they\u2019re simply not willing to take unmitigated liability risk,\u201d Scott said. \u201cI\u2019m talking about the risk of a spill, damage to the vessel, or harm to the crew.\u201d<\/p>\n Operating without AIS can create additional challenges.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are doing old-school navigation,\u201d Scott explained. \u201cNo AIS, no GPS, no lights. If there\u2019s moonlight, you\u2019re completely dark.\u201d<\/p>\n One tanker owner told gCaptain that even with the U.S. Navy overseeing the Omani route through the strait, the possibility of an Iranian attack cannot be ruled out.<\/p>\n Scott agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe entire Gulf of Oman is within reach of Iran,\u201d he said. \u201cUntil you get to the Indian Ocean, you\u2019re at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead, Scott said there is significant pent-up demand from vessels waiting to enter the Gulf once the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens. What remains uncertain, however, is the extent of damage to regional refineries and how quickly production can ramp back up.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery day is a new day,\u201d Scott said. \u201cThe vessels are ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Editorial Standards<\/a> \u00b7 Corrections<\/a> \u00b7 About gCaptain<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t Sign up for gCaptain\u2019s newsletter and never miss an update<\/p>\n \u2014 trusted by our 104,987 members<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t![\"logo\"\/](\"https:\/\/gcaptain.com\/wp-content\/themes\/gCaptain-Theme\/assets\/images\/gcaptain-new-gray-logo.svg\"){kind=logo}
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