The Pakistani-flagged oil tanker “Shalamar” is the first ship carrying crude oil to leave the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the US blockade at the beginning of the week. This rare crossing reflects the continued strict restrictions imposed on navigation in this important waterway.

Marine Traffic data showed that the tanker headed to the Gulf of Oman late Thursday evening, after loading about 450,000 barrels of crude oil in the Emirates. Data indicates that its destination is Karachi.

This crossing is the first known exit of a crude oil tanker from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since the US blockade took effect on Monday, in light of the escalating risks faced by shipowners in the region.

In a related context, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Friday via the “X” platform that a South Korean tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia had left the Red Sea, considering this the first shipment of its kind for his country since the imposition of the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.

The South Korean Ministry of Fisheries had previously announced that the ship had left the Red Sea safely, as part of Korean efforts to secure energy supplies through alternative routes.

Since the start of US-Israeli military operations on February 28, transit traffic through the Strait has been very weak, remaining in the single digits on most days, with the exception of a slight increase over the weekend.

New US maritime restrictions require shipowners to obtain approval from Iranian and US authorities to transport oil and other goods from the Gulf, adding to uncertainty about shipping traffic.

Although three supertankers carrying non-Iranian crude oil were able to exit last week, very few cargoes have been able to transit the waterway over the past seven weeks, even before the blockade was imposed.

It is noteworthy that “Shalamar” had tried to enter the Gulf for the first time on Sunday, but turned back after the collapse of US-Iranian peace talks, before later returning to Das Island to load oil, then leaving east on Thursday evening.

US Central Command announced on Thursday that 14 ships had turned back over the past three days, reflecting the continued reluctance of many shipowners to risk passage through the strait in current conditions.

According to reports, the blockade extends from the Omani coast near Ras Al Hadd to the Iranian-Pakistani border.