Idemitsu Maru completed a transit through the Strait of Hormuz on a Tehran‑approved northern route, carrying 2 MMbbl of crude from Saudi Arabia. The move is significant as it is the first successful exit by a Japanese oil carrier from the Persian Gulf since the Iran war began. The Strait of Hormuz remains a chokepoint for global oil flows, with traffic having dropped to near zero after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February. In this environment, the Idemitsu Maru’s passage signals a cautious shift by Japanese shipowners toward direct Gulf routes. The 2007‑built Panama‑flagged very large crude carrier had entered the Persian Gulf a few days before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February. It is listed as being operated by the tanker arm of Japanese energy conglomerate Idemitsu Kosan Co. , and is currently signaling Nagoya, Japan, as its destination with an estimated arrival on May 18. The vessel loaded its cargo at Saudi Arabia’s Juaymah terminal in early March and departed from northwest of Abu Dhabi after more than a week of idling. Ship‑tracking data show the tanker followed the northern corridor near Qeshm and Larak, clearing the strait on Tuesday. A company spokesperson said that for safety reasons, Idemitsu would not comment on the status of individual vessels. Ship-tracking in the Strait of Hormuz may not accurately capture all transits as some vessels have transponders switched off, and signals in the region can be interfered with. A transit by a Japanese-owned tanker would be a shift in approach by the nation’s refiners and shipowners. Idemitsu Maru’s attempt is also noteworthy as it’s one of the largest tankers to do so since the U.S. began its own blockade of Iranian ships two weeks ago. During that time, traffic through the strait has remained near zero. While Japan is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude, its shipowners have been cautious amid the hostilities. Idemitsu, among other refiners, has relied on ship-to-ship transfers to procure some cargoes, with these taking place well outside the Persian Gulf. They have also turned to buying alternative supplies from the U.S. carried on smaller tankers. Some Japan-linked vessels have made the transits during the war, although they were limited to cargoes of other commodities. Earlier this month, a liquefied petroleum gas carrier co-owned by another Japanese shipowner made the exit in a passage that was facilitated by India.