A Japanese oil tanker arrived in Japan on Monday, becoming the first to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Iran war, which has left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted, Kyodo News reported.
The tanker, operated by a unit of major refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co., brought 2 million barrels of crude, equivalent to about 80 per cent of daily domestic demand, to Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, according to sources close to the matter.
Its crew, including three Japanese, is in good health, they said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference the ship’s arrival in Japan is “pleasant news in terms of securing a stable energy supply.”
After the effective closure of the strait by Iran, the Japanese government asked the country to ensure free and safe passage through the strait for vessels of all countries.
There are still 39 Japan-related vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf, including one with Japanese crew members aboard, said Kihara, the top government spokesman.
“We will continue to proactively make all diplomatic efforts and ensure coordination,” so all vessels can pass through the strait as soon as possible, he added.
An oil tanker of another major Japanese oil company, Eneos Holdings Inc., also passed the Strait of Hormuz in mid-May. It is expected to arrive in Japan sometime between the end of May and early June
