New Delhi, May 13: The Hormuz Strait is under tight surveillance due to tensions between the United States and Iran. Recently, a super tanker carrying crude oil from China has successfully navigated through this critical waterway.
According to ship-tracking data, the Chinese super tanker “Yuan Hua Hu” was reported to have passed through the Strait of Hormuz while exiting the Gulf region. The vessel traveled southward, passing near Iran’s Lark Island before exiting the strait.
The ship was observed traversing this unstable and sensitive maritime route on Wednesday morning. Reports indicate that it moved southward, navigating through the eastern section of the strait near Lark Island.
On May 11, Reuters cited shipping data from Kepler and LSEG, revealing that three oil tankers had crossed the Hormuz Strait after shutting down their tracking systems. These tankers were carrying crude oil. It was claimed that two very large crude carriers (VLCCs)—Aegios Fanorios I and Kiara M—exited the strait on Sunday, May 10, each carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil.
It was noted that the Aegios Fanorios, bound for Vietnam, had previously failed to navigate the waterway on two occasions since loading Basra medium crude on April 17. However, on this day, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported that the Maltese-flagged Aegios Fanorios successfully crossed the Hormuz Strait with assistance.
Iran has kept the strait under its terms, while the United States has imposed blockades on its ports. This strait remains a significant factor in the instability of peace proposals between the two nations. Additionally, there have been missile or drone attacks on passing ships.
On May 4, a tanker named ‘JV Innovation’ was targeted near the strait. This vessel was operating under the flag of the Marshall Islands but had direct ties to China. Following the drone or missile attack, a massive fire broke out on the ship’s deck, which Beijing officially confirmed. A Chinese crew was present on board. The attack occurred near the UAE’s Mina Sakr port.
In response to the attack, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern, stating that assaults on civilian vessels would not be tolerated.
Leave a Comment