Vessels often engage in STS exchanges within days of a reported attack to move cargo to a different tanker and preserve fuel flow. On Oct 4, satellite images captured 19 transfers of energy products, including 11 shipments of crude oil and two of LNG. While analysts previously tracked over 18M barrels moving through the Strait of Hormuz in early October, current trends suggest the shuttle system is reaching capacity as traditional departure volumes fall.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Regional Crude Departures Drop Following Rise in STS Transfers
Commodities10 days ago
ESA Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and ship-tracking data show that energy vessels are increasingly avoiding traditional port exits in the Gulf of Oman to evade missile strikes. This surge in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers has led to a decline in standard regional crude oil departures over the past seven days, according to TankerTrackers. Ship-to-ship operations in the region dipped to 15+ on Oct 6 from 19 on Oct 4, a development that analysts at MerruX attribute to the impact of Iran ramping up attacks on the tanker fleet.
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