Reuters: Tanker "Helga" Arrives at Basra Port to Load 2 Million Barrels Amid Ongoing Hormuz Closure

 Shipping sources told Reuters today, Friday, April 24, 2026, that the tanker "Helga," flying the Comoros flag, has arrived at the Basra oil port in southern Iraq. The sources explained that the tanker is preparing to load two million barrels of crude oil from the offshore berths, noting it is the second vessel to successfully reach the southern loading platforms since the start of the Strait of Hormuz closure crisis. This move reflects Iraq's attempts to resume energy flows through alternative or secure channels amidst the current maritime tensions sweeping the region.