Ultra Large Crude Carriers 'Silent' Transit through the Strait of Hormuz

Following the public crossing of the "Idemitsu" through the Strait of Hormuz, there is another significant development in Japan's shipping industry. This time, a supertanker belonging to the country's largest refiner has opted for a more discreet strategy.

Vessel tracking data reveals that Japan's VLCC, the Eneos Endeavor, appeared in the waters of the Gulf of Oman late on Wednesday night with its position broadcasting deliberately turned off. This means that the ship was in "silent" mode throughout its journey across the global energy chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz.

This is the second Japanese supertanker to complete such a voyage since the escalation of Middle Eastern tensions. The vessel last sent out a position signal near Abu Dhabi on Monday and then vanished from monitoring systems, reappearing only after successfully crossing the strait. The massive ship, currently fully loaded, belongs to Eneos Holdings, Japan's largest refiner. According to draft data provided by Bloomberg, the ship had loaded significant amounts of crude oil at Das Island in the UAE and Mina Al Ahmadi port in Kuwait.

Notably, the ship's itinerary has changed. Originally, it was destined for the Kire Port in Kagoshima, Japan, but it has been changed to "awaiting instructions," with the final destination for the cargo remaining unclear. Eneos Holdings declined to comment on the operational status of the ship, with a spokesperson stating that, for security reasons, the company will not disclose any specific operational details about the vessel.

This "silent" tactic contrasts sharply with the public transit of the "Idemitsu" two weeks ago. At that time, the "Idemitsu" opted to keep the Automatic Identification System on throughout its voyage, a maneuver that was confirmed by the Japanese government with high-profile endorsement.

The two tankers adopting completely different strategies reflects shipping companies' balancing act between risk assessment and transit efficiency. In the current volatile geopolitical landscape, shutting off signals has become an extreme measure to avoid potential threats and mitigate shipping risks.