An aerial view shows a tanker near the fuel depot of Aral at the Ruhr Oel petroleum refineries of BP Gelsenkirchen GmbH in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany on April 7, 2026. INA FASSBENDER / AFP
The first non-Iranian oil tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, April 9, since a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States was announced, according to the MarineTraffic monitor. The MSG, a Gabon-flagged oil tanker passed went through the strategic waterway Thursday loaded with around 7,000 tonnes of Emirati fuel oil, and is headed to Aegis Pipavav, India, according to MarineTraffic.
Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the waterway in peacetime. But the crucial shipping has not meaningfully reopened since the two-week truce took effect on Wednesday. Just two other tankers, both Iran-flagged, and six bulk carriers have been through the strait since then, according to MarineTraffic owner Kpler.
A dozen other vessels, including another laden oil tanker, appeared on Thursday to be on course to pass through, signaling no real change in daily traffic compared to the week before the ceasefire. The channel in peacetime sees around 120 daily transits, according to Lloyd's List, a shipping industry intelligence site.
