The last known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East heading towards Europe has switched its destination to Britain amid the war in Iran, GB News can reveal.
Yasa Hawk is now on course towards the United Kingdom, shipping analysts Vortexa have told the People’s Channel, which will dampen fears over the Islamic Republic’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was fully loaded with jet fuel on March 17 at the Saudi Arabian port of Yanbu in the Red Sea.
It is currently located in the Mediterranean and is expected to dock in the UK early next week.
Yasa Hawk was not destined for any specific country yesterday, which is often a sign the owners were waiting to get the best deal for their load.
Until now, the last known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East was expected to arrive tomorrow, leading to fears of a fuel shortage at airports across the country.
There are currently no other tankers containing Middle Eastern jet fuel heading towards the UK or mainland Europe.
Earlier today the boss of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, warned: ‘We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June.”
Yasa Hawk is now on course towards the UK
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MARITIME OPTIMA
Speaking to Sky News, the Irish businessman said his airline is facing a 10 to 25 per cent risk of fuel disruption this summer if the war in Iran continues.
Darragh O’Brien, Ireland’s Transport Minister, stated Mr O’Leary has his “finger on the pulse”, adding the issue was discussed at a meeting of European Union energy ministers.
Since Donald Trump’s declared war on the Iranian regime in February, airlines have been cancelling thousands of flights, causing jet fuel prices to more than double.
Jet fuel cost $742 a metric tonne last year but has recently topped $1,710.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping lane | GETTYEarlier today, Mr Trump posted on Truth Social vowing to blast Iran “back to the Stone Ages” until the Strait of Hormuz opens.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s total oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply passing through it daily.
Speaking about the latest shipment, Mick Strautmann, Market Analyst at Vortexa, said: This is significant as over half of the UK jet fuel imports are sourced from the Middle East, based on Vortexa data from the last two years.
“India is an alternative jet fuel exporter to the UK, but a majority of India jet fuel exports are currently targeting the Southeast Asia market. Apart from the Middle East and India, the US and Northwest Europe are the main remaining exporters of jet fuel to the UK, but with strong competition for jet fuel barrels, it is unlikely that these regions will be able to make up for the Middle East deficit if supply disruptions continue.”
