Todays updates on the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait and all ports / anchorages in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman..........including an explosion aboard a VLCC off Muscat and a release of detained seafarers
The Greek owned VLCC, Olympic Life, experienced an explosion whilst off Muscat yesterday (May 26, 2026). There has been significant damage done to the ship, the explosion is said to have been on the waterline and bunker fuel has leaked into the sea. All crew are confirmed to be safe and unharmed.
The vessel is owned by Athens-based Olympic Shipping Management, the successor to Olympic Management founded by late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, according to the Onassis Foundation's website.
More on this :
Greek-owned VLCC hit by explosion off Oman, cause unknown (Baird Maritime - May 26, 2026)
Reports coming from the UAE have confirmed that 10 seafarers have been released by Iran after being detained in July 2025. They were aboard the Harbour Phoenix, an oil products tanker after the ship had been intercepted off Jask. The Indian government had been negotiating their release which was finally granted.
"The seafarers have now been released and reunited safely," the shipping authority said.
"Necessary arrangements are being coordinated for the earliest return of the crew members to India."
More on this :
Iran releases 10 Indian sailors detained since 2025 (Gulf News - May 27, 2026)
Onto the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Strair
All relatively quiet in the Strait of Hormuz, there are some ships on the move. The Iranian herders are still hanging around so traffic is extremely light
The Bab-el-Mandab Strait is flowing freely this morning, no reported incidents
The Persian Gulf from Umm Qasr to Doha is very congested once again, ships are still being moved towards the Saudi and Kuwaiti coastline by Iranian herders
The area tween Mina Saqr and Jebel Ali has gone almost totally deserted....however, following the explosion in the Gulf of Oman aboard the VLCC, the ships are most likely to still be there but are dark on AIS. Some will have shifted across towards the Saudi coast.
Onto the Gulf of Oman....from Dibba to Muscat, all ports and anchorages are once again extremely congested, the Iranian herders are very busy getting the anchorages tightly packed. Although no explanation for the explosion aboard the VLCC yesterday has been given, the seafarers on these ships will obviously be very concerned about their safety
Unfortunately no updates on the injured crew that remain in Omani hospitals who were hurt during the attack on CMA CGM San Antonio during Project Freedom
Thats it for today...back tomorrow