BY COMFORT OGBONNA
A Chinese tanker under U.S. sanctions successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, even as the United States continues to enforce a blockade on the critical shipping route, according to maritime tracking data.
The vessel, Rich Starry, appears to be the first tanker to move through the strait and exit the Gulf since the blockade was put in place. Data from shipping trackers including LSEG, MarineTraffic, and Kpler confirmed its movement, highlighting a significant test of the U.S. restrictions in the region.
The tanker and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co. Ltd., are under U.S. sanctions for conducting business with Iran. Attempts to contact the company for comment were not immediately successful.
Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol. The cargo was loaded at its most recent port, Hamriyah in the United Arab Emirates, before the ship began its journey through the Strait of Hormuz. Data also shows that the vessel is operated by a Chinese crew.
In a related development, another tanker under U.S. sanctions, Murlikishan, also entered the strait on Tuesday, according to LSEG data. The ship, which is currently empty, is expected to load fuel oil in Iraq on April 16. Previously known as MKA, the tanker has a history of transporting both Russian and Iranian oil.
The movements of these sanctioned vessels suggest that, despite the U.S. blockade, some ships are still attempting to navigate the vital waterway, raising questions about enforcement and the broader impact on global energy trade.
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