Two Chinese-owned very large crude carriers (VLCCs)—the Hong Kong-flagged Ocean Lily (299,170 dwt), operated by Sinochem, and the China-flagged Yuan Gui Yang (319,702 dwt), owned by COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation—transited the Strait of Hormuz outbound from the Arabian Gulf on 19 May, according to AIS data from Pole Star Global and other maritime tracking services.

A third VLCC, the South Korean-flagged Universal Winner (299,981 dwt), owned and operated by HMM, was observed in mid-transit through the Strait on 20 May en route to Ulsan Port, Republic of Korea.  

Both Chinese vessels followed the Iranian-prescribed northern routing—adjacent to Larak Island and north of the internationally recognized Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS)—and ceased AIS transmissions upon entering the Gulf of Oman. The Universal Winner is likewise adhering to this route.  

Destination broadcasts indicate the Ocean Lily is bound for Quanzhou Port (China), while the Yuan Gui Yang is headed to Shuidong Port (Guangdong Province, China). Neither vessel called at Iranian ports prior to transit; therefore, neither falls under the scope of the U.S. sanctions-related maritime enforcement measures applicable to vessels engaged in prohibited Iranian trade. 

According to Pole Star Global’s PurpleTrac database, both Chinese VLCCs entered the Arabian Gulf shortly before the escalation of regional tensions on 28 February: the Ocean Lily loaded crude oil in Basrah, Iraq on 27 February, and the Yuan Gui Yang completed loading at the same port on 3 March. The Universal Winner entered the Gulf on 27 February.  

Separately, on 4 May, HMM’s 38,000-dwt multipurpose vessel HMM Namu sustained hull and engine room damage following two reported strikes while at anchor off Umm Al Quwain, UAE. Iranian authorities have denied involvement in the incident. 

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/_-2FU73ntLnqLy9x-4zW_A