As CENTCOM moves to open up Hormuz, tankers surge to U.S. Gulf

Photo: CENTCOM

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said today in a post on X that its forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, April 11, as two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted operations.

USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.

Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.

TANKERS HEAD TO LOAD UP IN U.S. GULF

Meantime, the Strait of Hormuz remains far from being back to normal operations and Windward AI on Saturday reported 172 crude oil tankers headed to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

“As the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global supply chains (despite a fragile ceasefire), a wave of crude tankers is underway or already positioned at the U.S. Gulf Coast to load up and deliver to shortage-hit markets,” says Windward

Windward’s Early Detection is tracking the surge in real time:

→ 46% increase in tankers arriving through the Northern Corridor (Bahamas waters — originating from Europe).
→ 132% increase in crude tankers arriving through the Southern Corridor (French Guiana EEZ — originating from Asia/the Gulf).

“This is supply rebalancing in action, and a clear signal of how conflict thousands of miles away reshapes trade flows right at America’s doorstep,” says Windward.