Report: Two Iranian oil tankers, fully loaded, turned off their tracking systems and bypassed the US blockade to enter the Arabian Sea.

On Wednesday, according to satellite images from the data intelligence company Vortexa cited by Bloomberg, two Iranian-flagged very large crude carriers fully loaded crossed the blockade line designated by the US on April 20 and entered the Arabian Sea. This is the latest case captured by satellite this week and is part of at least 34 Iranian-linked oil and gas tankers that have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade began.

The combined capacity of the two ships that broke through the blockade can carry up to 4 million barrels of crude oil, further highlighting the limitations of the US actions to block Iranian crude oil exports. On Tuesday, Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, but also stated that the blockade would remain in place.

Currently, about 800 ships are still trapped in the Persian Gulf. The International Maritime Organization stated it is drafting an evacuation plan, but its implementation depends on further easing of tensions.

Satellite Images Reveal Details of the Breakthrough

According to Vortexa data, the two ships that crossed the blockade line are named Hero II and Hedy, both Iranian-flagged very large crude carriers. Both ships turned off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to evade tracking by the US Navy—this is a common practice for vessels attempting to bypass the blockade.

The last time Hero II broadcast its position was over a month ago, heading north in the Strait of Malacca; Hedy last transmitted its location near Cape Horn at the end of February this year. The ultimate destinations of both ships are unclear. Vortexa pointed out that India received two batches of Iranian crude oil before a recent US waiver expired.

Effectiveness of Blockade in Question, Multiple Ships Continue to Test Boundaries

Vortexa data shows that since the blockade began early last week, at least 34 Iranian-linked ships have crossed the strait and blockade line. Of those that have crossed, 19 are leaving the Persian Gulf, with 17 carrying cargo, collectively delivering about 9 million barrels of crude oil to the market.

The US Navy's blockade line extends northeast from Cape Hadd on the Oman coast to the border of Pakistan. Since the start of the blockade, the US Navy has seized one Iranian-linked cargo ship and inspected a sanctioned tanker east of Sri Lanka, further expanding the scope of the operation, but several ships continue to test the blockade boundary.

More Ships Approaching Hormuz

Besides Hero II and Hedy, multiple ships are moving toward the Strait of Hormuz. The US-sanctioned small liquefied petroleum gas ship G Summer crossed the strait on Tuesday, and ship tracking data shows it passed the boundary line announced by the US Navy to be under blockade; the Gambian-flagged cargo ship Lian Star also crossed Hormuz on Tuesday and is currently moving along the Iranian coastline, approaching the blockade boundary.

The US-sanctioned long-range fuel tanker Atlantis II began sailing toward the Strait of Hormuz late Tuesday night and is now close to Lara Island inside the strait. It is unclear if it is carrying cargo. The LPG ship LPG Sevan is also approaching Hormuz; although its listed destination is Sharjah Port in the UAE within the Persian Gulf, this vessel has previously transported Iranian goods.

According to maritime database Equasis, Atlantis II is managed by Al Anchor Ship Management FZE of the UAE, whose owner shares the same registration address as Al Anchor; LPG Sevan is owned and managed by Anka Energy & Logistics Co. in Dubai; another nearby medium-range tanker Ocean Jewel has no known connection to Iran, its owner and operator is Ocean Jewel Shipping Co. Ltd., based in Shanghai.

In addition, Trump announced Tuesday an indefinite extension of the ceasefire agreement with Iran but clarified that the blockade would remain. This statement means that the situation of about 800 ships trapped in the Persian Gulf is unlikely to change in the short term. The International Maritime Organization stated on Tuesday that it is working on an evacuation plan for the trapped ships, but implementation depends on whether the situation can substantially ease.

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