In the wake of the ongoing 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, a growing number of tankers and commercial vessels are deliberately switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders—commonly known as “going dark”—to navigate the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. There is a difference between “Going Dark” and a Tanker in the Dark Fleet” – […]
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In a wide-ranging Bloomberg Surveillance interview aired today, Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth painted a sobering picture of ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz while signaling that the industry is accelerating plans for alternative infrastructure to reduce reliance on the critical chokepoint. Wirth confirmed that multiple vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz have […]
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U.S. crude oil and petroleum product exports have hit unprecedented levels in recent weeks, even as the Biden-era Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) continues to be drawn down at a record pace to help stabilize global markets amid ongoing disruptions from the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade. According to the latest data, total […]
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In a notable development underscoring shifting global energy trade flows amid ongoing Middle East tensions, a cargo of crude oil drawn from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is heading to California for the first time ever, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler. The shipment involves approximately 460,000 barrels of Bayou Choctaw Sweet crude destined for […]
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Energy News Beat – May 28, 2026 U.S. and Iranian negotiators have hammered out a tentative 60-day memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend a fragile ceasefire and kick-start talks on Iran’s nuclear program — but the deal still needs final sign-off from President Donald Trump. According to Axios reporting, the framework aims to reopen the […]
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In a significant sign of cautious normalization amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and at least two LNG tankers have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz this week, with cargoes bound for key Asian buyers in China and India. The vessels operated in “dark mode” — transponders switched off to […]
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In a recent appearance on Squawk Box Asia, veteran commodities strategist Jeff Currie (Co-Chairman of Abaxx Markets) delivered a stark warning that resonates deeply with current market dynamics. He described an emerging “rare earth moment” — a qualitative shift where markets have been neglecting the physical world (“atoms”) in favor of financial narratives and tech […]
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ENB Pub Note: This article was originally posted on the California Globe, and we highly recommend reading their site. We will be covering this opinion on the Jones Act on the next Energy News Beat Stand Up. California put itself in a dangerous position by relying heavily on expensive foreign oil rather than prioritizing American-made […]
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In a notable development signaling cautious thawing in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, the Qatari LNG tanker Al Sahla is transiting the Strait of Hormuz today, heading directly to China’s Tianjin LNG terminal. Expected to arrive around June 14 with a cargo capacity of approximately 211,842 cubic meters, this marks the third […]
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In a significant escalation of its maritime posture, Iran has formally established a “controlled maritime zone” in the Strait of Hormuz through its newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA). The authority—widely understood to operate under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—has published an official map and set up a social media presence to assert […]
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