A tanker that passed through the Strait of Hormuz amid a maritime standoff between the United States and Iran is heading to South Korea, according to tracking data. Supply chain tensions remain elevated as some vessels continue to transit the chokepoint even as the world's key energy shipping route is effectively shut down.
According to Reuters on Tuesday (local time), the Malta-flagged tanker Odessa passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 13th and is now heading to South Korea.
The vessel is a Suezmax-class tanker capable of carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil and is reportedly bound for Hyundai Oilbank's refining facility in South Korea.
Hyundai Oilbank confirmed that the vessel is en route to its refinery but declined to comment on the specific cargo.
AIS Turned Off During Voyage, Spotted Again Near Fujairah
The Odessa switched off its automatic identification system (AIS) during its voyage before being spotted again on the 17th in the Gulf of Oman near the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to data from ship tracking firm Kpler and the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), it has not been confirmed where the vessel loaded its crude oil.
More than 20 vessels were recorded passing through the Strait of Hormuz on the same day. This marks the highest level since the 1st of last month, shortly after the outbreak of the Iran war.
Among them was the Liberian-flagged tanker Navig8 Macallister, which is heading to Ulsan carrying approximately 500,000 barrels of UAE naphtha.
"Open, Then Reblocked": Growing Uncertainty in Middle East Shipping
Iran had effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz as a retaliatory measure following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. On the 17th, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the strait would be fully reopened to commercial vessels in line with a "10-day ceasefire."
However, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reversed course a day later, declaring that the U.S. was violating the ceasefire agreement through a "counter-blockade" targeting Iranian ports, and has reinstated and enforced the blockade of the strait since the 18th.
The U.S. is restricting vessel traffic originating from or destined for Iranian ports in an effort to cut off Iran's oil exports.
As mutual blockades continue, uncertainty is growing over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil shipments pass. With some vessels continuing to make "risk-taking voyages," tensions in the global energy supply chain are rising further.
