Oil Price: Two Chinese oil tankers, one carrying Iraqi oil, leave the Strait of Hormuz
Two Chinese oil tankers carrying Iraqi and Saudi crude oil rushed towards the exit of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, before stopping at the entrance to the strait, in an indication that the Chinese ship owners are apparently testing the conditions for resuming navigation.
A report by OilPrice.com, translated by Al-Maalomah News Agency, stated that the crude oil tanker “Cospiral Lake,” belonging to the Chinese state-owned shipping company COSCO, departed Basra, Iraq, in early March, and openly declares itself Chinese-owned and crewed, according to data from MarineTraffic.
The report added that the Chinese vessel is among several tankers that have been maneuvering in the Gulf in preparation for a possible passage through the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening.
The report explained that despite the ceasefire, which is conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, there has been little change in shipping traffic over the past 24 hours. While some ships have managed to depart, Iran remains in control, reportedly informing vessels via radio that they still require Tehran’s approval to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
The Danish shipping giant Maersk said in a statement following the ceasefire announcement: “Information and details are still very limited, and we are working urgently to obtain further clarification,” adding, “The ceasefire may offer opportunities for transit, but…” It does not yet provide a complete guarantee of safe navigation, and we need to understand all the potential conditions that may accompany it.
According to Windward Maritime Intelligence, “Coordination with the Iranian armed forces remains essential for all transit operations,” noting that “Iran has confirmed that this is done ‘within technical constraints’ without specifying what those constraints are, but all indications suggest that the Islamic Republic is seeking to maintain its influence over the waterway during ceasefire negotiations.”
Almaalomah.me