Idemitsu Tanker Enters Ise Bay After Crossing Strait of Hormuz

The VLCC tanker Idemitsu Maru entered Ise Bay this week carrying roughly 330,000 kiloliters of crude oil ^[1].

This arrival is significant because the vessel successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz during a period of heightened Middle East tensions that had caused a de-facto closure of the waterway. The shipment ensures a critical supply of energy for Japanese refineries despite the regional instability.

The tanker, owned by the Idemitsu Kosan group, passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 29, 2026 ^[1]. The vessel was manned by three Japanese crew members ^[3]. An Idemitsu spokesperson said the ship is carrying approximately 330,000 kiloliters of crude oil ^[1], a volume estimated at roughly 2 million barrels ^[2].

The cargo will be piped to Idemitsu’s Aichi refinery after its arrival in Ise Bay, off the coast of Aichi Prefecture [1, 3]. While the passage was confirmed by multiple sources, the financial terms of the transit were unconventional. A Japanese government official said the transit fee was not paid ^[3].

Other reports indicate that the passage was coordinated with Iranian authorities. The Tasnim News Agency said the vessel passed through the strait after coordination with the Iranian side ^[3]. This coordination likely facilitated the ship's movement despite the prevailing blockade conditions, a move that allows Japan to maintain its energy security during a volatile geopolitical period.

The Idemitsu Maru is the first such shipment to reach Japan since the strait became effectively impassable for standard commercial traffic ^[1].