29 Large Non-Iranian Oil Tankers Escape Hormuz as 80 Remain Trapped Since Feb. 28
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 30
29 Large Non-Iranian Oil Tankers Escape Hormuz as 80 Remain Trapped Since Feb. 28
13 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 30
Twenty-nine of the 109 non-Iranian large oil tankers stranded in the Persian Gulf when the Iran war erupted have now crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to Bloomberg shipping data.
Those vessels each can carry 700,000 barrels or more, making the breakout significant even though only about one-quarter of the trapped fleet has escaped.
The departures came in a slow, stealthy trickle after the strait was effectively shuttered when the conflict began on Feb. 28.
About 80 large non-Iranian tankers still remain inside the Gulf, underscoring how the war continues to constrain one of the world's key oil shipping routes.
If the Hormuz ceasefire fails, how close is the world to a critical oil inventory collapse?
Will Iran’s proposed ‘toll booth’ on the Strait of Hormuz become the new global standard?
As shadow fleets master stealth tactics, how can the world secure its most vital shipping lanes?
Strait of Hormuz Blockade 2026: One Billion Barrels Lost, Global Energy Crisis, and Geopolitical Standoff
Overview
As of late May 2026, the Strait of Hormuz is nearly shut down, with maritime traffic at a standstill due to Iran’s closure of the waterway in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks. This has led to ongoing assaults in the region and triggered the worst energy supply crisis in history, according to the International Energy Agency. The disruption has removed about a billion barrels from global supplies, stranding thousands of seafarers and causing severe economic and humanitarian impacts worldwide. The blockade’s effects ripple through energy markets and supply chains, highlighting the vulnerability of global trade to geopolitical conflict.