Chinese tankers poised for Gulf exit
Two fully loaded Chinese tankers are waiting outside the Strait of Hormuz, potentially becoming the first such vessels to leave the Persian Gulf following the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran. Shipping companies are closely monitoring the situation amid uncertainty over the terms of the agreement.
The tankers, Cospearl Lake (linked to state-owned Cosco Shipping) and He Rong Hai (owned by a smaller operator), initially moved east at high speed on Thursday morning before slowing almost to a halt. Both display Chinese ownership on tracking systems, a common security practice for transits approved by Iran.
Rising tanker concentration at the Strait
The Chinese vessels are part of a growing fleet near the Strait’s entrance, close to the UAE. The Indian-flagged Desh Vibhor, carrying crude oil, is positioned off Ras Al Khaimah, while the Saudi-flagged supertanker Jaham moves east towards a waiting area near Dubai.
Their positions suggest intent to transit the Strait, though prior incidents show that ships often change course at the last moment.
Ceasefire terms and ongoing uncertainty
Iran and the US agreed to a temporary pause in hostilities in exchange for opening the Strait, but the agreement’s specifics remain unclear. Continued attacks, including Israeli strikes in Lebanon, cast doubt on its effectiveness. Despite the ceasefire announcement, shipping traffic has not significantly increased.
US President Donald Trump announced a “full, immediate and safe reopening” of the Strait, while Iran maintains military control, sending signals that the passage remains effectively restricted with designated “safe routes.”
Shipping market cautious
Major shipping firms, including Mitsui OSK Lines, are evaluating the ceasefire terms carefully, seeking “sustainable stability” before sending vessels through the Strait. “How this is applied at sea must be fully understood,” said CEO Jotaro Tamura.
The Chinese tankers carry crude oil – Cospearl Lake from Iraq and He Rong Hai from Saudi Arabia. Approval for passage has mostly been granted to countries with friendly ties to Iran. The transit of Cospearl Lake would mark Cosco’s first tanker movement since the conflict began six weeks ago.
Navigation and diversion strategies
Both supertankers were largely stationary in the Persian Gulf throughout March. On Thursday morning, they attempted eastward movement before halting at the Strait entrance. Previously, Cosco container ships followed a similar route before turning north along Iran’s coast, a pathway used by other vessels with Tehran’s approval.
Cospearl Lake is operated by Cosco Shipping Energy Transport and owned by Cospearl Lake Maritime Ltd., having loaded nearly 2 million barrels of crude in Basrah, Iraq, in early March. He Rong Hai, owned by Hainan Herong Shipping Co. and managed by Shanghai Yucheng Shipping Co., loaded over 2 million barrels from the Juaymah terminal in Saudi Arabia shortly before the war began in late February.
Also read: Iran: Two alternative routes through the Strait of Hormuz
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