U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement on Wednesday, May 27, that since the beginning of the maritime blockade of Iranian ports, 109 merchant vessels have been rerouted to ensure compliance with the blockade.
CENTCOM also released an image showing an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter approaching the destroyer USS Delbert D. Black after conducting a patrol in the Arabian Sea in support of the blockade. This announcement comes as the maritime intelligence company Windward reported the detection of 13 “dark” oil tankers near the coast of Chabahar.
According to the company’s report, these vessels include nine Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and four Suezmax tankers, which are highly likely to be carrying full cargoes of crude oil or gas condensates.
Windward stated that these ships are not transmitting any Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals, and an examination of satellite imagery and maritime data shows no recorded signs of movement or transit during the period under review.
According to the report, the aforementioned tankers are stationed in a strategic position east of the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate oil exports to Asian markets without the need to directly pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
