Indian Cargo MSV Quba Among 4 Vessels To Cross Strait Of Hormuz Through New Route; How Ships Are Avoiding Iran's Blockade?

Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, to most maritime traffic, following the outbreak of conflict with the United States and Israel on February 28. There have been growing international calls for the reopening of the passage; however, Iran has not indicated any such plan. To navigate this situation, a new shipping route seems to have emerged in the strait, allowing commercial vessels to avoid the usual path and Iran’s toll blockade.

How Ships Are Avoiding Iran's Blockade?

The new route doesn’t follow the one approved by Tehran, instead it stays within Omani territorial waters. This path provides a safer passage for ships carrying oil, LNG, and general cargo amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Analysis of Data from the AIS (Automatic Identification System) and remote sensing shows at least four large vessels using this route so far. Among these vessels was the Indian-flagged cargo ship MSV Quba MNV 2183, which left Dubai’s Port Rashid on March 31.

Source:VesselFinder.

The data recorded MSV Quba’s last position at about 40 km from Dibba, a coastal area on the eastern Arabian Peninsula spanning the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. The final destination of this cargo vessel remains unclear as of now. Earlier, two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), the Marshall Islands-flagged Habrut and Dhalkut, along with the Panama-flagged LNG carrier Sohar had entered Oman’s territorial waters near Ras Al Khaimah.

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The vessels had then turned off their signals near the Musandam Peninsula in Oman. They were later observed 350 km off Muscat on April 3, carrying significant crude loads from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The data shows that these vessels crossed the strait by following the Omani coast, instead of the heavily guarded northern route closer to Iran.

The alternative passage highlights how Oman’s territorial waters are providing a corridor for vessels seeking to bypass the blockade and Iran’s toll system amid heightened tensions in the region. According to reports, Iran is charging USD 1 per barrel or USD 2 million per tanker for crude passing near its islands of Qeshm and Larak.

UN Voting On Hormuz

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that the UN Security Council is expected to vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. However, China, who holds veto power has clarified that it opposes any use of force in the region.

ALSO READ: Hormuz Blockade: How Many Indian Ships Have Crossed The Strait So Far As Iran War Lingers