Thailand secures safe Hormuz passage for three stranded vessels
Thai diplomacy helped PTT, Bangchak and SCGC vessels move through the Strait of Hormuz, easing risks to domestic fuel and petrochemical supply.
- Thailand secured safe passage for three stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz by employing proactive diplomacy and coordinating with Iran and Oman.
- The secured vessels belong to PTT, Bangchak, and SCG, and were carrying vital cargoes of crude oil and petrochemical feedstock.
- This breakthrough helps mitigate the risk of energy and petrochemical shortages in Thailand that arose from regional geopolitical tensions.
“Team Thailand” has pursued proactive diplomacy, coordinating with Iran and Oman to secure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for three Thai vessels carrying oil and petrochemical cargoes.
The breakthrough has helped reduce the risk of energy and petrochemical feedstock shortages in Thailand amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
PTT shoulders the cost to safeguard energy security
PTT Public Company Limited confirmed the successful return of the Serifos, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, which is expected to arrive back in Thailand in late April 2026.
The vessel had been stranded at Sharjah Ports in the United Arab Emirates since March 7, 2026, due to the impact of the unrest.
PTT has also had to shoulder a massive liquidity burden of more than 230 billion baht as it managed risk and sourced replacement crude from other suppliers during the crisis to ensure Thai consumers were not affected by any shortage.
Bangchak successfully brings “MT. POLA” to Sriracha
Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited successfully brought the MT. POLA, carrying 700,000 barrels of crude oil, to its Sriracha refinery in Chon Buri on April 7, 2026, after the vessel had been left waiting in the Persian Gulf since March 11, 2026.
This success came after close coordination.
Bangchak informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 17, 2026, which then coordinated with the Iranian Embassy in Thailand on March 18, 2026, to confirm that the vessel was carrying energy supplies for the public and was “not a party to the conflict”.
It was eventually granted permission to pass through the strait.
SCG awaits the second vessel after the first gets through
For the SCG Group, SCG Chemicals (SCGC) received good news when its first vessel carrying 55,000 tonnes of naphtha feedstock was granted permission to leave the Strait of Hormuz and is now heading to Thailand.
However, another SCG vessel remains stranded and is still under close safety assessment.
Proactive diplomacy helps “Sihasak” break the deadlock
An academic said this success reflected the effectiveness of the Thai government under the “Team Thailand” strategy, particularly the role of Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who visited Oman from April 15-17, 2026, to use bilateral ties to encourage Oman to act as an intermediary with Iran.
The effort helped strengthen confidence at the system level and protect national interests during a global crisis.
