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By Julian Lee and Prejula Prem
May 16, 2026 (Bloomberg) –A Suezmax tanker identified as carrying Iraqi crude is approaching India after apparently crossing the Strait of Hormuz in recent days.
Observable daily commercial transits of the waterway in both directions dropped to five ships on Friday from 11 the previous day. There was a slight pick-up into Saturday morning, with six seen moving through the strait, vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Transits into and out of the Persian Gulf remain far below prewar levels as the conflict enters a 12th week. Despite frequent pronouncements from US President Donald Trump that Iran would soon capitulate, there's no sign of the country easing its blockade of Hormuz. Tehran has made acceptance of Iran's sovereignty over the strait one of five preconditions for rejoining talks to end the war.
The Suezmax tanker Karolos appeared in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday as it sailed away from the Strait of Hormuz toward India, reporting a draft that indicated it's fully loaded. The ship was previously seen near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates a week earlier, heading in the opposite direction.
The tanker is identified by ship-tracking company Kpler as carrying Iraqi crude loaded at Basra on May 10-11. An image from the European Union's Sentinel 2 satellite shows a ship of the same coloring and dimensions at one of the Basra loading buoys on the morning of May 11.
Separately, the oil tanker Agios Fanourios I, halted by the US on a voyage from Iraq to Vietnam, remains in the Gulf of Oman, while the very large crude carrier Kiara M, which also crossed out of the Persian Gulf after loading at Basra, appears to have completed switching its cargo onto another ship off Oman, tracking data show.
Friday's observable outbound transits included a bulk carrier and two Iran-linked vessels — a fuel tanker and a container ship — in addition to the China-linked liquefied petroleum gas carrier reported yesterday.
Saturday started busy by recent standards, with a products tanker, three bulk carriers and a livestock transporter heading out of the Gulf.
In a post on X, US Central Command said Friday that the military has now diverted 75 commercial ships since imposing its own blockade on Iran.
A U.S. Army helicopter observes commercial ships while flying over regional waters near the Strait of Hormuz during U.S. enforcement of the maritime blockade against Iran.
As of May 16, 78 commercial ships have been redirected, and 4 have been disabled to ensure compliance.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 16, 2026
Tracking data show two possible inbound commercial transits on Friday, although neither ship sent clear signals within the strait. An oil products tanker appeared to make an inbound crossing along the waterway's southern coastline, but its subsequent signals show it covering an impossible distance.
Separately, a bulk carrier appeared on tracking screens on Saturday, heading for the northern Persian Gulf. Its position when it appeared suggests it crossed the strait on Friday.
Two Iran-linked tankers — an oil products carrier and an LPG carrier — crossed into the Persian Gulf on Saturday morning. Both are sanctioned by the US.
If its automated signals are correct, the oil tanker would appear to have successfully evaded the US blockade, crossing the Gulf of Oman on May 9-10.
Widespread interference of signals on the industry's Automatic Identification System has clouded the picture, making independent verification of ship traffic increasingly difficult.
As a result, transit counts may later be revised upward when ships reappear further from high-risk waters.
Even before the US barred movement to and from Iranian ports, it was common for Iran-linked vessels to "go dark" when approaching Hormuz. Signals were often not restored until well into the Strait of Malacca — around 13 days' sailing from Iran's Kharg Island.
© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Fuente: GCAPTAIN_NEWS
