Tehran, Iran. Two Chinese container ships turned back after attempting to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to ship-tracking data, despite Iran saying Chinese vessels could pass.
Ships’ attempted crossing
The CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, both Hong Kong-flagged, have been stuck in the Gulf since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on Feb. 28. They attempted to pass through the strait at 0350 GMT on Friday but then turned back, analysis from the Kpler data platform showed.
Kpler analyst Rebecca Gerdes said the incident showed that safe passage could not be guaranteed.
COSCO bookings and ship messages
The operator, China’s COSCO, said in a March 25 client advisory that it had resumed bookings for general cargo containers for shipments from Asia to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.
Both vessels broadcast messages on their AIS ship-tracking systems stating they had Chinese owners and crews, according to data on the LSEG platform on Friday. Shanghai-based parent company COSCO Shipping was not immediately available for comment.
Iran statements and regional shipping disruptions
On Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a Tweet that Iran permitted passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan.
Iranian state media reported on Friday that three container ships of various nationalities were turned back from the Strait of Hormuz after warnings from the Revolutionary Guards’ naval force, without providing further details.
Iran has launched attacks on Gulf shipping and threatened more, stranding hundreds of vessels and 20,000 seafarers inside the Gulf. Energy exports including crude oil from Saudi Arabia and liquefied natural gas from Qatar have been effectively halted.
How do the latest Strait of Hormuz disruptions affect shipping and energy exports in the Gulf?
