Sanctioned China Tanker Turns Back to Strait of Hormuz
The U.S.-sanctioned tanker Rich Starry made its way back to the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after exiting the Gulf the day before, shipping data showed, failing to break through a U.S. blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports.
The Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol that was loaded at the port of Hamriyah in the United Arab Emirates, Kpler data showed. It is currently anchored off Iran. The company could not be reached for a comment.
U.S. Blockade Creates Uncertainty
The blockade has created even further uncertainty for shippers, oil companies, and war risk insurers. Traffic remains at only a fraction of the 130-plus daily crossings before the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran began on February 28, industry sources said on Tuesday.
VLCC Alicia Enters Gulf to Load Oil
Another U.S.-sanctioned vessel, the Very Large Crude Carrier Alicia that has a record of carrying Iranian oil since 2023, is entering the Gulf via the strait on Wednesday, Kpler and LSEG data showed. The empty tanker, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, is heading to Iraq to load a cargo on Thursday, Kpler data showed.
VLCC Agios Fanourios I Succeeds in Entering Gulf
Separately, the Malta-flagged VLCC Agios Fanourios I entered the Gulf via the strait on Wednesday in a second attempt to transit, according to the data. The tanker was among several vessels that tried to enter the Gulf on Sunday during the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal.
It is heading to Iraq to load Basra crude for Vietnam’s Nghi Son refinery, according to the data and trade sources. Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, which manages the Agios Fanourios I, and Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Reporting by Florence Tan in Singapore, Mariko Katsumura in Tokyo, Enas Alashray in Cairo, and Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Kim Coghill
Original Article: Sanctioned China tanker turns back to Strait of Hormuz, day after Gulf exit | Reuters — Reuters