Discover the Agios-Fanourios-I: Ratings & Maritime News

The tanker 'Agios Fanourios I' has received the necessary authorization from US authorities to continue its voyage, as reported by Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, the vessel's Athens-based management company. On the morning of May 17, the fully loaded Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) navigated past the US-imposed boundary line, which is designed to enforce a blockade on Iranian shipping. Having set sail from the Persian Gulf a week prior and traversed the Strait of Hormuz, the tanker aimed to venture into the Arabian Sea. However, as it neared the US naval blockade line, the ship was compelled to turn back into the Gulf of Oman, as indicated by ship-tracking data. At that time, the US Central Command confirmed that the vessel was redirected to maintain enforcement of the blockade. In a bid for the tanker’s release, the PetroVietnam Oil Corp., the trading division of Vietnam's national energy firm, submitted a formal appeal to the US last week, emphasizing the critical significance of the cargo for the Nghi Son Refinery and the Vietnamese populace.

The tanker 'Agios Fanourios I' has altered its navigation path after successfully passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, with permission from Iran. After its transit, the vessel began to approach the U.S. blockade line in the Gulf of Oman, slowing its speed from an initial 13 knots to just 1.2 knots as of May 11. Initially, the ship was making its way back toward Oman at a speed of five knots, while its AIS data consistently pointed to Vietnam as its intended destination. This vessel had previously entered the Gulf weeks earlier to load a shipment of crude oil at the Basra Oil Terminal. On May 11, Iranian authorities confirmed that the tanker had the green light for its passage. On that same day, 'Agios Fanourios I' was among a small group of vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, which included the Qatari LNG carrier 'Mihzem'. Although the 'Mihzem' approached the Strait but ultimately turned back on May 11, AIS data revealed its transit through the Strait occurred on May 12, as it headed toward Port Qasim along the coast.

On May 10, 2026, the tankers "Agios Fanourios I" and "Kiara M" (IMO: 9285823) successfully traversed the vital Strait of Hormuz, though both vessels had their Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off during the passage. This move comes as oil producers and traders in the Middle East continue to navigate the complexities of oil exports from the Persian Gulf amidst ongoing tensions with Iran. Each tanker was laden with around two million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, a significant cargo for the global oil market. The "Agios Fanourios I" is scheduled to deliver its oil at the Nghi Son refinery in Vietnam by May 26, marking an important step in its transport journey. Notably, this vessel had previously attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on two separate occasions after loading its cargo at the Basrah Offshore Oil Terminal on April 17, but those attempts were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the fate of the "Kiara M" remained uncertain, as it also departed the Gulf with its tracking system deactivated, leaving the specifics of its destination ambiguous. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in maritime oil logistics within this strategically crucial region.

On April 12, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz witnessed a significant maritime development as two VLCCs, the 'Agios Fanourios I' and the 'Shalamar', were compelled to turn back shortly before reaching this crucial trade route. This decision followed the conclusion of diplomatic talks between the USA and Iran, which ended without a consensus. Initially, three VLCCs had set out from the Gulf of Oman late on April 11, making their way towards the Strait. Upon approaching Iran’s Larak Island—the key checkpoint for vessels entering the waterway—the 'Agios Fanourios I', destined for Iraq, and the 'Shalamar', bound for Das Island, both executed U-turns and retreated from the strait. In contrast, the third tanker, 'Mombasa B', opted to proceed and successfully navigated through the Iranian-approved corridor between Larak and Qeshm islands into the Persian Gulf, although its exact destination remains unclear. Notably, both Iraq and Pakistan had previously secured authorization from Iran to utilize this route. Remarkably, the 'Agios Fanourios I' had previously traversed the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on a second attempt, marking it as the first crude oil carrier to navigate westward after the implementation of the US blockade on Iran’s maritime ports.