US-Blacklisted Gas Carrier Passes Through Strait of Hormuz

Sanctioned Tanker Navigates the Strait of Hormuz Amid Regional Tensions

Image Source: Marine Traffic

A tanker under US sanctions, previously blacklisted for transporting Iranian liquefied petroleum gas, successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. This vessel is among the few to have traversed the strategic waterway in recent days.

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According to ship-tracking information reviewed by Bloomberg, the Danuta I, a large gas carrier registered in Palau, made its passage through the strait early Friday morning local time. The vessel had loaded cargo within the Persian Gulf, as indicated by a rise in its draft.

While navigating both inside the gulf and through the strait, the ship’s transmission signals were irregular and sometimes absent, implying that its transponders may have been switched off or that it was broadcasting misleading location data to obscure its route. Widespread signal interference in the region could also have played a role.

Charlie Brown, an advisor to United Against Nuclear Iran—a US-based advocacy group focused on Iran—explained, “The Strait of Hormuz is currently too dangerous for reputable shipping companies to cross, both from a business and crew safety perspective. This is why many tankers remain stranded in the Gulf, unable to leave.”

He added, “Sanctioned or so-called ‘dark fleet’ vessels might choose to take the risk and attempt the crossing, potentially after coordinating with Iranian authorities in the area.”

Bloomberg’s investigation found that the ship’s owner, Ithaki Maritime and Trading, based in Panama, lacks any visible online presence or contact details, such as a website, phone number, or email address.

The Joint Maritime Information Center, headquartered in Bahrain, reported in a statement released before the Danuta I’s journey that shipping activity in the strait had nearly come to a standstill.

Brown suggested, “Following Danuta I’s successful passage, other sanctioned tankers might be encouraged to attempt the crossing as well.”

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