Working Conditions Aboard the Henna

The Iranian oil tanker Hamoon, managed by the National Iranian Tanker Company, is currently navigating towards the Tanjung Pelepas port in southern Malaysia, situated close to Singapore. This course was set on March 17, when the vessel was reported to be traveling at a speed of 8.8 knots. Initially signaling an intention to head to Singapore on March 9, the Hamoon has a draft of 22 meters (72 feet), just shy of its maximum allowable draft of 22.2 meters, according to maritime tracking data. A representative of the National Iranian Tanker Company, reached in Tehran on March 11, confirmed the tanker’s course towards Singapore but did not disclose the final buyer of the shipment or cargo destination, citing company policy. It's important to note that the destination information logged by ships' crews may be prone to inaccuracies.

In a significant move reflecting ongoing market dynamics, Iran is utilizing its own fleet to ship fuel oil to Singapore amid the challenges posed by Western sanctions. The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) HAMOON is on course to reach Singapore around March 25, transporting an impressive volume of approximately 280,000 metric tons of fuel oil. A trader familiar with the transaction has disclosed that the vessel is loaded with about 200,000 tons of 380-cst high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) sourced from the Bandar Abbas refinery and an additional 80,000 tons of 280-cst straight-run fuel from Bandar Mahshahr. While it is speculated that this substantial cargo may have been sold to the European trading firm Vitol, this has not been officially substantiated. Representatives from Vitol opted not to comment on the deal. As the global energy market continues to adapt to evolving trade conditions, this delivery marks a notable event in Singapore's fuel supply landscape.