Chinese oil tankers join queue to test Strait of Hormuz passage and Iran ceasefire deal (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg, April 9 report: Two fully loaded Chinese oil tankers are anchored near the Strait of Hormuz, potentially becoming the first vessels to depart the Persian Gulf just one day after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement took effect, as shipowners closely monitor conditions in this narrow waterway.
Ship tracking data shows that the ultra-large crude carrier Cospearl Lake, owned by China's state-owned COSCO Shipping Group, and the smaller vessel Hé Róng Hǎi, operated by a lesser-known company, appeared early Thursday morning to be sailing eastward at nearly maximum speed before coming to a near-complete stop.
Both vessels’ tracking systems indicate they are Chinese-flagged, a common measure taken to ensure safety during passage through Iran-approved routes.
Bloomberg reports these tankers are part of an increasingly large fleet gathering near the strait’s entrance off the UAE.
Iran and the United States agreed to suspend hostilities in exchange for opening the strait, though specific details remain unclear. Ongoing attacks—including Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon—have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the truce. Since the ceasefire announcement and so-called opening of the strait a day ago, traffic in the strait has seen virtually no change.
The shifting positions of Chinese and Saudi Arabian vessels along the Gulf coast highlight their intent to transit the strait after being trapped in the inland sea for weeks, yet their next movements remain uncertain.
Shipowners said on Thursday they are still awaiting concrete details on how to safely navigate through. On Wednesday, Iran issued radio warnings to vessels stating passage still requires Tehran’s approval. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that the country has designated specific routes for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with both entry and exit routes required to circumvent the Larak Island in the strait.
Bloomberg notes the cargo aboard these Chinese vessels has drawn attention. One carries Iraqi crude oil, while the other transports Saudi Arabian crude.
The passage of the "Cospearl Lake" will mark the first attempt by a COSCO Shipping vessel to cross the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing six-week conflict. Since the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, its oil tankers have been stranded in the strait, prompting Iran to almost completely close the port of Hormuz in retaliation.
For most of March, the two ultra-large tankers, along with several others, remained moored in the central Persian Gulf. Early Thursday, they began moving rapidly eastward before slowing down and stopping at the strait’s entrance.
Electronic interference in the region can distort vessel signals, causing inaccurate position information. Some ships also disable their transponders in high-risk waters.
Last month, two COSCO container ships had also followed a similar route before turning north along the Iranian coast. Previously, other vessels successfully evacuated via this path after obtaining Tehran’s permission. Beijing later acknowledged coordinating with relevant parties to evacuate Chinese ships from the Persian Gulf, though it did not disclose specific vessel names.
The "Cospearl Lake" entered the Gulf in late January, conducting ballast operations near Dubai for some time before heading to Basra, Iraq, in early March to load nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil.
The "Hé Róng Hǎi" entered the Gulf shortly before the war erupted in late February. In early March, it loaded over 2 million barrels of crude oil at the Jauwaimah terminal in Saudi Arabia.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862008941213704/
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