Five Iran-Linked Oil Tankers Change Course to Avoid U.S. Navy on Route to Malaysia

BlockBeats News, April 18th, according to WSJ report, data from Lloyd's List Intelligence shows that at least five Iran-linked oil tankers traveling from the Arabian Gulf to Malaysia have changed course since the US Navy announced it would intercept vessels carrying Iranian oil in international waters.

The Suezmax oil tanker Kariz, flying the Iranian flag and carrying 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, was originally headed to Malaysia and Singapore but deviated from its course Friday morning near Sri Lanka. Another sanctioned Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Andromeda carrying nearly 2 million barrels of oil also altered its course in the Indian Ocean while en route to Southeast Asia.

On Friday, the oil tankers Amak and Elisabet sailing empty reversed course in the Arabian Gulf as they were heading towards the Strait of Hormuz and approaching US Navy vessels. Both of these vessels are subject to US and EU sanctions.