Japanese Supertanker Transits Strait of Hormuz Following Iranian Coordination

A Japanese-owned supertanker has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, emerging into the Gulf of Oman after its last reported position inside the Persian Gulf, marking a rare passage for a vessel linked to an Asian nation amid ongoing regional tensions. The crude carrier, managed by Japan's Idemitsu Kosan, carried approximately two million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil loaded at the Juaymah terminal in early March. This development, reported by Bloomberg on May 14, underscores the selective navigation possible through the strait despite Iran's regulations requiring prior authorization and adherence to designated routes.

The transit follows a pattern of limited vessel movements since hostilities erupted on February 28 between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition. Iran's state media and ship-tracking data indicate the Idemitsu Maru, a Panama-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC), coordinated closely with authorities, briefly adjusting course near Iran's Qeshm and Larak islands before proceeding eastward. This mirrors earlier approved passages, such as three Japanese natural gas carriers earlier in the month and other Japan-linked LPG tankers operated by Mitsui OSK Lines, which used a similar northern route dubbed the "Tehran Toll Booth" by shipping analysts.

While details of this specific Japanese tanker's approval remain unconfirmed in the latest reports, it echoes a late April incident where the same vessel or a sister ship secured Iranian permission after anchoring off Abu Dhabi for over a week. Tehran has enforced strict controls on the strait—a chokepoint handling about 20 percent of global oil trade—regulating traffic along specified paths and permitting only authorized ships, in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes. No confirmation exists on whether fees were paid, but such transits highlight Iran's strategy of selective enforcement.

This event occurs against a backdrop of broader shipping disruptions, including a Chinese oil supertanker attempting an exit from the strait on May 13, as noted by Bloomberg, ahead of U.S.-China talks. For Japan, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern energy imports, these rare successes alleviate some supply pressures but expose vulnerabilities in Asia's energy chains. Affected parties include global refiners, insurers, and trading firms facing skyrocketing freight rates and rerouting costs.

The implications extend to international markets, where oil prices have fluctuated due to blockade fears, though selective allowances like this one signal potential de-escalation for non-combatant commercial traffic. Shipping firms continue monitoring Iranian directives, with vessel operators prioritizing crew safety and cargo integrity. As talks between major powers loom, such transits could foreshadow negotiated access, but the strait's future remains tied to the underlying conflict's trajectory.