Massive Sea of Oman Oil Transfers Bypass Strait of Hormuz

A massive logistical effort involving approximately 25 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products has been underway in the Sea of Oman, according to maritime tracking firm TankerTrackers. At least 15 simultaneous ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfer operations took place outside the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, August 26.

The cargoes originated from nearly every oil-producing nation in the region except Iran. Regional nations are utilizing short feeder voyages to move crude into the Sea of Oman to bypass high-risk corridors inside the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. naval forces have escorted several vessels carrying these cargoes along a southern route near the Omani coastline. After offloading their shipments in the Sea of Oman, these shuttle tankers return to Persian Gulf ports to reload crude from regional exporters.