Two Chinese supertankers U-turn in Hormuz as risks remain high
The threat to shipping persists after the UK Navy reported a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile along Oman's coast.
Two Chinese-flagged supertankers, the Sea V and Hestia, have reversed course in the Strait of Hormuz as shipping risks remain high after tensions with Iran escalated. The vessels, carrying crude oil, turned back in the narrow waterway on Tuesday and Wednesday, idling in the middle of the strait. The reasons behind their sudden course change remain unclear.
The Sea V, originally en route from the Persian Gulf to Hormuz with Iraqi crude, is now anchored in the middle of the strait. The Hestia, traveling along the Omani coast, also reversed direction before sailing out of the Gulf. Both vessels are flagged to Hong Kong and reportedly have Chinese crew members on board.
Other tankers, such as the fuel tanker Amara linked to the UAE and a Hong Kong-flagged VLCC named Erecter, have also turned back in the strait. However, the overall traffic through the narrow waterway has slowed to a trickle due to the heightened threat of attacks from Iran. The UK Navy reported that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile as it exited the Gulf near Oman on Tuesday.
The risks to shipping are expected to persist as President Donald Trump has ruled out ongoing negotiations with Tehran. Iran's lead negotiator with the US has stated that Hormuz will not reopen until Washington agrees to a list of demands, including lifting its naval blockade, removing oil sanctions, and ending military operations. Despite the threats, some ships continue to attempt to transit through the strait, with the Erecter broadcasting a Chinese crew and crossing from the Gulf into the Sea.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Two Chinese supertankers U-turn in Hormuz as risks remain high freemalaysiatoday.com
