An Iranian crude oil tanker has reportedly succeeded in entering Indonesian waters, circumventing an active United States (US) naval blockade. The colossal vessel was detected navigating through the strategic Lombok Strait, now charting a course towards the Riau Islands archipelago.
This significant development comes from a report by ship-monitoring firm TankerTrackers, as cited by Middle East Eye. They identify the vessel as the second of its kind – a gigantic Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC).
Named the DERYA by TankerTrackers, this particular vessel has a history of eluding detection. It previously managed to avoid the close surveillance and monitoring efforts of the US Navy before its recent appearance in Indonesian waters. Notably, during an earlier voyage, the DERYA failed to deliver approximately 1.88 million barrels of crude oil to India.
Confirming its trajectory, TankerTrackers stated on its official X account, as quoted by Middle East Eye on Monday (May 4): “We then saw the vessel continue south after that, at which time its ‘sister’ vessels in the region were diverted back to Iran by the US Navy. It is currently en route to its rendezvous point in the Riau Islands.”
This latest report underscores the ongoing challenges in maritime shipping for Iran, following a similar incident involving the tanker HUGE. TankerTrackers further revealed that while some Iranian tankers have successfully reached their intended destinations amidst persistent maritime restrictions, others have been compelled to turn back, and some have even been seized.
Summary
An Iranian crude oil tanker, identified as the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) DERYA, has reportedly entered Indonesian waters via the Lombok Strait, successfully circumventing an active United States naval blockade. This colossal vessel is now en route to the Riau Islands archipelago, according to ship-monitoring firm TankerTrackers. The DERYA has a history of evading detection, having previously avoided US Navy surveillance.
This development, reported by TankerTrackers, underscores the persistent challenges faced by Iranian maritime shipping amidst international restrictions. While some Iranian tankers successfully reach their destinations, others, including “sister” vessels in the region, have been diverted back to Iran by the US Navy or even seized. The DERYA’s successful entry follows a similar incident involving another tanker, HUGE.