U.S. Blockade Forces Sanctioned Chinese Tanker To Turn Back In Strait Of Hormuz

A US-sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry, turned back towards the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after failing to move past a US blockade on vessels linked to Iran, according to shipping data.

The tanker had exited the Gulf a day earlier but was unable to continue its voyage.

The blockade was announced by US President Donald Trump after talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad over the weekend ended without any agreement.

US Central Command said that no ships were able to cross the blockade in the first 24 hours. It added that six vessels followed instructions from US forces and turned back to Iranian ports.

The Chinese-owned Rich Starry was among at least eight ships moving through the waterway on Tuesday, the first day of the blockade.

The tanker is sanctioned for dealing with Iran and is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol. The cargo was loaded at Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates.

Data showed the vessel is now anchored off Iran. Its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co, could not be reached for comment.

A US destroyer also stopped two oil tankers that were trying to leave Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, a US official said.

The situation has reduced traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil routes.

Industry sources said the number of ships passing through is now only a fraction of the more than 130 daily crossings seen before the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran began on February 28.

There have been no Iranian crude tankers passing through the strait since the blockade started, according to data from Kpler and LSEG.

Iran has about 90 million barrels of unused onshore storage capacity, which can support output of around 3.5 million barrels per day for about two months if exports stop.

If production is reduced to around 3 million barrels per day, this could extend to about three months.

Another US-sanctioned vessel, the very large crude carrier Alicia, entered the Gulf through the strait on Wednesday. The empty tanker, which can carry up to 2 million barrels of oil, is heading to Iraq to load cargo on Thursday.

Separately, the Malta-flagged VLCC Agios Fanourios I entered the Gulf on Wednesday in a second attempt after an earlier effort during a ceasefire period.

The vessel is heading to Iraq to load Basra crude for Vietnam’s Nghi Son refinery. Its manager, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, and the refinery did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The blockade has added uncertainty for shipowners, oil companies and war risk insurers, as movements through the Strait of Hormuz remain limited.

References: Reuters, Business Standard