3 Saudi supertankers carry 6 million barrels through Hormuz
What's new: The crossings followed the interim US-Iran deal, offering an early test of whether more than 100 trapped tankers can move.
Three Saudi-controlled supertankers began crossing the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, marking the first large Saudi oil shipments to pass through the waterway since the war began. The Bahri vessels — Shaden, Jaham and Awtad — switched on their signals in the Gulf of Oman after being stuck inside the Persian Gulf for months. Together they are carrying about 6 million barrels. A Qatari LNG carrier, Mraikh, and the Chinese fuel tanker Ye Chi also exited. Traffic remains far below prewar levels, and shipowners are still weighing risks including possible mines and high freight rates. Before the interim US-Iran peace deal, more than 100 oil tankers, including about 30 supertankers, were trapped inside Hormuz.