Idemitsu Oil Tanker Passes through Strait of Hormuz

Istanbul, April 29 (Jiji Press)–A crude oil tanker owned by Idemitsu Tanker Co., a subsidiary of Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co., passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is en route to Japan, it was learned Wednesday. This is the first time that a crude oil tanker headed directly for Japan has left the Persian Gulf since the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran began on Feb. 28. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday that a Japan-related ship has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is sailing toward Japan. The prime minister described the passage as a positive development including for the protection of Japanese citizens and said that she will continue to call on Iran to make sure all ships can pass through the key oil transport waterway freely and safely. More than 40 Japan-related vessels remain in the Persian Gulf at present. According to global ship-tracking website MarineTraffic, as of Wednesday afternoon Japan time, the Idemitsu Maru tanker was sailing in the northern part of the Arabian Sea after passing through the Strait of Hormuz, heading for the central Japan city of Nagoya. Iranian state media also reported that this tanker passed through the strait. Reports said that Idemitsu Maru is carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Arabia. After remaining anchored off Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, for a week, it began sailing on Monday and passed through the strait with permission from Iranian authorities. There has been no report on whether transit fees recently imposed by Iran were paid. On Wednesday, the Iranian Embassy in Japan posted a message on X, along with a photo of an Idemitsu Kosan tanker called Nissho Maru, which transported Iranian crude oil to Japan in 1953 under a British maritime blockade, saying that this historic mission “stands as a testament to the long-standing friendship between the two countries.” It added, “This legacy continues to hold great significance.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]