Only nine empty very large crude carriers remain available for oil storage in the Persian Gulf as the region's storage capacity rapidly diminishes. Each tanker can hold about 2 million barrels of crude, equivalent to just five hours of Saudi Arabia's daily production. The dwindling number of available vessels signals mounting pressure on the region's oil infrastructure.

Iran's threats to attack ships using the Strait of Hormuz have effectively blocked vessels from entering the Gulf, creating a bottleneck for oil storage and transportation. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE have increased exports through alternative terminals, neither country has sufficient pipeline capacity to completely bypass the strategic waterway. Vessel-tracking data shows 74 VLCCs in the region, but two-thirds are already full or partially loaded.

The situation is exacerbated by widespread signal spoofing in the region, making accurate tracking difficult. Iran-linked vessels have been identified through ownership records and movement patterns, while several ships are being used as floating storage off Iraq. With onshore storage tanks expected to fill rapidly once the remaining tankers are loaded, the region faces potential production shut-ins that could impact global oil markets.