SINGAPORE, May 13 (Reuters) - A Chinese supertanker, carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, was trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, as per ship-tracking data from LSEG and Kpler. The Very...
SINGAPORE, May 13 (Reuters) - A Chinese supertanker, carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, was trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, as per ship-tracking data from LSEG and Kpler.
The Very Large Crude Carrier Yuan Hua Hu was located near Iran's Larak Island, on the eastern side of the strait, and was headed south.
If it makes it through, this would be the third time a Chinese oil tanker has passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began on February 28, according to the available data.
Recently, Iran has strengthened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, making deals with Iraq and Pakistan to transport oil and liquefied natural gas from the area, according to knowledgeable sources.
Other nations are looking into similar agreements, which could establish Tehran’s control of the waterway more permanently.
The Chinese VLCC is owned by COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation’s Hainan unit and is chartered by Unipec, the trading division of the Chinese state-owned oil giant Sinopec.
COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation and Sinopec did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
The Yuan Hua Hu loaded nearly 2 million barrels of Basrah Medium crude oil at Iraq’s Basrah terminal in early March and has been stuck in the Gulf since then. It is on its way to Asia.
Two other Chinese-flagged VLCCs, Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai, passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 11.