HORMUZ – An oil tanker sailing under the flag of Curaçao recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, during a period of heightened military tension in the region.
The vessel, identified as the tanker Lan Jing, was tracked through shipping data analyzed by maritime monitoring platform MarineTraffic. The tanker is one of the relatively few ships that have navigated the narrow waterway in recent days.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, has become a conflict zone following escalating tensions linked to military actions involving Iran. In response to strikes on Iranian territory, attacks have reportedly been carried out on vessels traveling through the strait, which serves as a critical route for global oil and gas transport.
Before the conflict intensified, between 50 and 80 oil and gas tankers passed through the strait daily. Since hostilities escalated, maritime traffic has sharply declined. Over the past week, only about 24 ships have been recorded making the passage, according to ship tracking data.
The Lan Jing reportedly passed through the strait in the early morning hours while carrying crude oil. Shortly before its transit, a Thai vessel sailing from Dubai to India was reportedly struck during an Iranian attack and forced to stop in the middle of the waterway. The tanker sailing under the Curaçao flag was able to continue its journey without incident and later moved south toward the waters near Pakistan.
The ship has previously attracted international attention. Since October 2024, the Lan Jing—formerly known as Wen Yao—has been listed on a U.S. sanctions list due to allegations that it transported Iranian oil.
Normally, a vessel flying the Curaçao flag would be registered in the island’s ship registry and sail under the flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. However, investigations in recent years have suggested that some tankers may falsely use the flags of Caribbean jurisdictions to disguise their operations.
The incident highlights the risks faced by commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and underscores ongoing concerns about vessels linked to so-called “shadow fleets” that operate under complex or disputed flag registrations while transporting sanctioned oil.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital corridor for global energy markets, with a significant share of the world’s oil exports passing through the narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf to international waters.