US Announces Specific Blockade Area for Strait of Hormuz; Two Tankers Turn Back for Observation
The US military announced a specific blockade area east of the Strait of Hormuz, encompassing the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. This blockade order became effective at 10 AM US Eastern Time on April 13, 2026. Ship tracking data indicates that at least two oil/chemical tankers, Rich Starry and Ostria, turned back near the Strait of Hormuz. Before the blockade, at least eight vessels had passed through the Strait from the Persian Gulf, with two linked to Iran, carrying Iranian oil and diesel respectively. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the shipping suspension in the Strait of Hormuz is expected to continue, trapping approximately 20,000 seafarers and over 1,600 vessels in the Persian Gulf.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 10:54
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 11:01 (7 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 13:15 (2h 13m after Collected)
The US military announced a specific blockade area covering the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, located east of the Strait of Hormuz. With the blockade order coming into effect, ship tracking data indicates that two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz reversed course. The blockade officially commenced at 10:00 AM US Eastern Time on April 13, 2026 (10:00 PM Taiwan Time on April 13). According to MarineTraffic data, the tanker Rich Starry, en route from Sharjah (off Dubai) to China, turned back minutes after approaching the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker Ostria, also an oil/chemical vessel, similarly reversed direction. Data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and energy market intelligence firm Kpler further showed that before the US military imposed the blockade, at least eight vessels had already transited through the Strait of Hormuz from the Persian Gulf on the same day. Among these, two oil tankers were associated with Iran, carrying Iranian oil and diesel loaded in the UAE, respectively. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez informed reporters that the shipping suspension in the Strait of Hormuz, ongoing since the conflict began, is expected to persist following the US military's blockade. Currently, approximately 20,000 seafarers and over 1,600 vessels are reported to be stranded in the Persian Gulf.