Three tankers depart Strait of Hormuz with transponders disabled

Singapore — Three oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers have reportedly departed the Strait of Hormuz this week with their tracking transponders disabled, according to shipping data from LSEG and Kpler. The vessels are bound for India and China.

The two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and one LNG carrier form part of a growing number of ships leaving the Gulf region this month, despite overall limited crude oil and LNG shipping traffic.

The VLCC Eagle Veracruz, carrying two million barrels of Saudi crude since late February, is expected to arrive at Quanzhou Port in Fujian Province, southeastern China, on 16 June, where a Sinochem refinery is located. AET Tankers, the owner and operator of the Eagle Veracruz, and Sinochem have not responded to requests for comment.

Reuters sources previously reported that the Eagle Veracruz was among seven vessels for which Malaysia had sought transit permission from Iran.

Meanwhile, the VLCC Nissos Keros, transporting approximately 1.8 million barrels of Dubai crude from the United Arab Emirates, is due to arrive at Visakhapatnam Port in India on 3 June, home to a Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) refinery. Vitol, the charterer of the Nissos Keros, and Kylades Maritime, the ship manager, have also not commented.

Kpler data shows both VLCCs exited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. On Wednesday (27 May 2026), the Chinese-flagged Hua Lin Wan, operated by COSCO Shipping, also departed the strait. The vessel, carrying naphtha from Kuwait since early March, is expected to reach Huizhou Port in Guangdong Province, southern China, on 12 June.

Separately, the LNG carrier Umm Al Ashtan was last tracked in ballast off the coast of the UAE on 1 May, according to Kpler and LSEG tracking data.