When he saw an explosion ahead, the tanker captain relied on years of seafaring experience to react instantly. He steered the 300-meter vessel around the ship in front, which was already ablaze, and then contacted the U.S. Navy to report the attack. Amid the threat of drones and missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, this kind of quick decision-making is becoming critical to keeping oil flowing to global markets. Washington and Tehran have yet to reach an agreement on restoring normal shipping through the strait. The captain, in his early 40s, asked to remain anonymous because the voyage involved commercially sensitive information. His account to Bloomberg explains why oil shipments from the Middle East are recovering under U.S. military protection and how it is being done. His tanker is among the vessels currently making the round trip through the strait to transport crude. These ships typically sail at night and follow strict equipment rules: no navigation lights, no phone use, and only one radar operating. They usually stay just one mile off the coast of Oman. The water there is about 100 meters deep, enough for even the largest supertankers to pass. The captain said he and his crew navigate by coastline and lighthouses. Tankers and cargo ships along the Omani coast

"I was just very lucky because I still remember the traditional methods of navigation, the old-school way," the captain said in an interview in the Philippines. He had just completed three months of round trips through the Strait of Hormuz and was on vacation in his home country. "They require no navigation lights, and it really tests you." These voyages are a lifeline for Gulf energy-producing nations and generate enormous profits for shipowners and commodity traders, who stand to earn billions of dollars. Crew members willing to risk the crossing can also command a handsome payout. JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs Group believe that Middle East crude export flows are recovering toward pre-war levels, driven by shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. JPMorgan estimates that the Gulf region is currently shipping 17.5 million barrels of oil per day. Since early summer, the United States has been quietly coordinating with shipping companies to plan routes that avoid Iranian mines. U.S. Central Command said in a statement that in recent months, American forces have "assisted thousands of vessels in transiting the Strait of Hormuz through coordinated protection." The statement said, "We will remain highly focused and work with other U.S. departments, regional countries, and the shipping industry to increase maritime traffic flows." The captain was often told that the U.S. military was protecting him, and he could see aircraft overhead. On one occasion, he said he saw a jet fly over them, along with a helicopter. He said the radio silence during the Strait of Hormuz crossing made the maritime experience even more unusual. The radio was silent, with only occasional chatter among the extra bridge personnel standing watch for attacks. Another captain of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier who has transited the Strait of Hormuz said that at the start of the voyage, they would flip the circuit breaker connected to the ship's Automatic Identification System (AIS) to hide the vessel's position while sailing near the Omani coastline. They would then reinforce the main deck with sandbags to protect against drone or missile strikes. These LNG carriers are fewer in number than tankers and more cautious. But the captain said that at least eight LNG carriers have transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past two weeks with security assurances from the U.S. side. Strait of Hormuz transit routes. Orange represents pre-war routes, yellow represents Iranian-designated routes, and blue represents routes designated by the Joint Maritime Information Center

Iran has its own blacklist of tankers. But shipping industry executives estimate that under U.S. military protection, the probability of a ship being hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz is about one in twenty. The tanker captain's most recent contract was one month shorter than usual because he knew the voyage would "not be easy." Even so, the pay he received for the crossing mission was several times his normal salary. Bloomberg previously reported that a shipowner offered its crew an extra six months of wages to make the round trip through the Strait of Hormuz. That sum is considerable for anyone, and many of the world's tanker crew members come from low-income countries such as the Philippines and India. The U.S. military has been monitoring the tanker carrying 2 million barrels of oil as part of strict monitoring procedures, and the vessel must check in with American forces regularly. After he saw the explosion ahead, the U.S. Navy told him that other ships further ahead were still continuing their voyage and that he should proceed as well. On another occasion, the captain's own tanker came under attack, but the vessel was not damaged and no crew members were injured. It was just one of many close calls. Even after completing a voyage safely, the signs of danger in the Strait of Hormuz never truly go away. "Something can happen at any time," the captain said. Once, while unloading onto another ship outside the Strait of Hormuz, they heard other vessels broadcasting by radio that they had been attacked near the strait. Strait of Hormuz transit routes. Orange represents pre-war routes, yellow represents Iranian-designated routes, and blue represents routes designated by the Joint Maritime Information Center

Ultimately, the decision on whether to transit rests with the captain. As long as they are willing to make the passage, millions of barrels of oil will flow into global markets every day. The International Maritime Organization estimates that 24 seafarers in the region have been killed in attacks since the war broke out. During the Strait of Hormuz crossing, the crew spends much of its time in contact with the U.S. Navy. The captain who spoke to Bloomberg said the U.S. side provides routes and gives waypoints throughout the voyage. The vessel must report to American forces every 30 minutes to confirm its status and whether any missiles have been spotted along the way. Each time they transit the strait, the captain and his team prepare for the worst. Like the LNG carrier, they place sandbags and water-filled buckets near the bridge as protective measures. The tanker's emergency fire pump runs continuously throughout the voyage, and emergency fire hoses are always kept ready near the living quarters. "The tanker is in danger at all times," the captain said. "It is a very dangerous ship." He said his children have been looking forward to him finishing his contract and returning safely to the Philippines. But he said he is ready to go to sea again at any time. "My family is worried, but I told them I can handle it," he said. "I am very proud of this. In fact, I really love my job."