On March 31, 2026, Bloomberg reported that a Greek-controlled oil tanker, the Suezmax Pola, successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. This journey marks the fourth instance of such a voyage since the onset of increased tensions in the region. After turning off its tracking system on March 10, the vessel reappeared in the eastern Indian Ocean near Indonesia’s Sumatra island, according to vessel tracking data.
The Pola, loaded with approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil, is reportedly heading to Thailand. Despite Iran’s restrictions on “hostile” vessels in the Strait, various Asian nations—including Thailand—have established bilateral agreements that facilitate the passage of certain tankers and cargo ships. This makes the Pola the fourth tanker managed by Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd. to navigate the Strait with its transponder switched off during this period of reduced sea traffic.
The situation remains precarious for shipping operations in the Persian Gulf. Earlier incidents, such as a drone strike by Iran on a Kuwaiti tanker, have heightened concerns regarding maritime security in this critical oil chokepoint.
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