Jakarta – An Indonesian oil tanker that had been stranded in the Persian Gulf since March due to heightened tensions stemming from the conflict between the United States and Iran has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to Indonesia, state energy company Pertamina said on Thursday.
The tanker, Gamsunoro, which has a capacity of 105,000 deadweight tons, departed the Gulf shortly after midnight on Wednesday and proceeded toward the strategic maritime chokepoint at a speed of 7.5 knots.
The vessel reached the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz at around 1 p.m. local time and safely cleared the passage approximately four hours later, according to Pertamina spokesperson Muhammad Baron.
"Since the situation began to develop, Pertamina has placed the safety of its crew and the security of its assets as the highest priority," Baron said in a statement.
"To that end, we have maintained close and intensive coordination with Indonesia's Foreign Ministry, Indonesian embassies in the region, and other strategic stakeholders."
The successful transit marks the end of nearly four months of uncertainty for the tanker, which had remained in the Gulf since early March as security risks escalated in one of the world's most important energy shipping corridors.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and serves as a critical route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any disruption to traffic through the narrow waterway can have significant implications for international energy markets.
Pertamina Corporate Secretary Vega Pita said the decision to dispatch Gamsunoro followed a month-long risk assessment process involving extensive reviews of security, operational, and insurance requirements.
"The timing and route for crossing the Strait of Hormuz were determined only after a very rigorous risk assessment," Vega said.
"We identified dozens of requirements that had to be met, ranging from insurance coverage and technical readiness to security protocols and crew preparedness. Only after those conditions were satisfied did we decide the vessel could begin its voyage from the Gulf."
Pertamina is also preparing a second tanker, Pertamina Pride, to depart the Gulf region.
The vessel has a capacity of 301,000 deadweight tons, equivalent to roughly 2 million barrels of crude oil, and is currently undergoing final preparations before receiving clearance to sail, Vega said.