JAKARTA/TEHRAN — A second Iranian supertanker has successfully bypassed the U.S. Navy’s maritime blockade and is currently navigating through Indonesian waters. According to the oil shipping monitoring firm TankerTrackers.com, the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) named DERYA is traversing the Lombok Strait, heading toward a rendezvous point in the Riau Archipelago.
The DERYA is reportedly carrying 1.88 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. The vessel’s movement follows a failed attempt to deliver its cargo to India in mid-April. While other Iranian vessels in the region were being intercepted or redirected back to Iran by U.S. forces, the DERYA managed to continue its journey south.
This development comes just 24 hours after another Iranian supertanker, the HUGE, which is carrying 1.9 million barrels, was spotted in the same strait after also evading U.S. naval units.
According to tracking data for the month of April:
Approximately 25 tankers departed Iran carrying crude oil.
Seven vessels were forced to return to Iranian ports by the U.S. Navy.
Two tankers were seized by U.S. forces during the ongoing maritime standoff.
The remaining vessels have either reached their destinations or are en route to strategic transfer points.
The successful navigation of these “sister ships” through the Lombok Strait highlights the ongoing high-stakes “cat and mouse” game between Tehran and Washington amidst a tightening global oil blockade.
About the Author
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
