A Pakistani oil tanker has navigated the Strait of Hormuz with its tracking system on, a rare move amid shipping disruptions from the Middle East conflict.

LONDON: A Pakistani oil tanker has transited the Strait of Hormuz with its automatic identification system (AIS) activated, marking a notable event during a period of major shipping disruption in the crucial waterway due to the Middle East war.

Marine Traffic, a maritime monitor, stated on Monday that the Aframax tanker Karachi, carrying Abu Dhabi’s Das crude, had become the first non-Iranian cargo to transit the chokepoint while broadcasting its AIS signal, suggesting that select shipments may be receiving negotiated safe passage.

The 237-metre-long, Pakistani-flagged vessel had a draft of 11.5 metres, indicating it was heavy and likely loaded when it entered Iranian waters on Sunday.

MarineTraffic confirmed in a post that the tanker is currently sailing in the Gulf of Oman at around 9.6 knots, having successfully passed through the strait with its AIS active.

This transit follows weeks of significantly reduced traffic through the strategic waterway, which is a vital route for oil and gas exports from Gulf countries.

Bloomberg data indicated the tanker was last moored at the Emirati oil hub of Das Island before its journey.

Tehran has targeted the waterway in retaliation for Israeli-US strikes, aiming to hurt the global economy to put pressure on Washington.

Maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence had recorded only 77 ships passing through Hormuz as of Friday since the start of the war on February 28, with most belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” operating outside traditional insurance and tracking systems.

According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), 20 commercial vessels, including nine tankers, have been attacked or reported incidents in the region since March 1.

 The Sun Malaysia