The two vessels – so-called VLCC vessels – have a capacity to transport two million barrels of oil each. Both turned at the Strait of Hormuz, on the way into the Persian Gulf, reports the news agency Bloomberg.
One of the vessels has since then resumed its journey into the Persian Gulf, while the other has anchored outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Sweden has about a hundred Swedish-flagged vessels that traffic the route through the Strait of Hormuz. But the recent events have not affected Swedish shipping to any significant extent.
In Sweden, we have relatively few of that type of larger tankers that usually traffic the area, says Anders Hermansson, CEO of Swedish Shipping.
No personnel have been called home. But I would say that all shipping companies are naturally following the development very closely.
Over the weekend, freight prices on the route through the Strait of Hormuz increased somewhat but have now fallen back to a normal level.
Flights turned in Saudi airspace
The commercial vessel traffic past the Strait of Hormuz – mainly oil and gas vessels – has for some time been affected by disruption signals that knock out equipment on board.
At the same time, there are reports that airlines – including British Airways and Singapore Airlines – have canceled flights to destinations around the Persian Gulf such as Dubai and Doha, reports the news agency.
A British Airways plane on its way to Dubai turned over the weekend in Saudi airspace and later landed in Zurich, Switzerland. Another plane that was supposed to go to Dubai turned in Egypt and returned to the British home airport Heathrow.
Emirates tells TT that their flights, from among other places Sweden, to Dubai will continue according to the regular schedule.
Japan Airlines also plans to continue flying to the region, but will take new routes to avoid risky airspaces over the Persian Gulf, which prolongs flight times. The same message comes from Air India.
Banks evacuate
Several American and European airlines had, according to Bloomberg, already paused flights to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar before the weekend's US attack on Iran – after the recent Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian shooting at targets in Israel.
Japanese major banks such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group have, in the shadow of the increasingly uncertain situation in the region, begun to evacuate personnel from offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other financial centers in the Middle East.
