A US tanker tied to China sails from the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman, testing President Donald Trump’s naval blockade.
The Rich Starry, a medium-range tanker formerly known as the Full Star, was blacklisted by Washington in 2023 for helping Tehran evade energy sanctions. On this occasion, it is not clear if she visited Iranian ports before transiting or if she is carrying cargo.
The exit is the second attempt for the carrier, which first began when the US embargo took effect on Monday, to turn back. A few hours later, it launched again and appeared to turn to the eastern side of Hormuz on Tuesday.
Shipowners, energy traders and investors across financial markets keenly watched her passage through Hormuz as they tried to understand the latest US effort to pressure Tehran and cut its oil revenues – and how it would work in practice.
“The real issue is not just whether ships can pass through Hormuz, but what range of enforcement options US warships are using and where they choose to use them,” said Charlie Brown, an adviser to United Against Nuclear Iran, a US lobby and pressure group focused on Tehran.
Rich Starry initially said it had a Chinese owner and crew — a joint security mechanism for ships passing through the strait during the current Gulf conflict that could test Washington’s resolve to confront vessels linked to the world’s biggest oil importer. The tanker has now switched to marking the Omani port of Sohar as its destination, according to ship tracking data.
The position signals of the tanker were not consistent during the crossing. Vessels in the area are regularly affected by electronic interference which can produce inaccurate speed and position reports.
Another tanker, the Elpis, was in the strait and headed for the Gulf of Oman just as the blockade began. It appears to have stopped outside the narrow waterway and off the coast of Iran. Kpler and Vortex’s ship-based tracking platforms indicate that the Elpis docked at an Iranian port in the Gulf before attempting to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a potential target for a US Navy patrol vessel.
The ship was sanctioned by the US last year under its former name of Chamtang due to its links to the Iranian oil trade.
Most shipowners contacted by Bloomberg across the Middle East and Asia — who now face the need to grant both Iran and the U.S. consent to leave the Gulf — said they would suspend all efforts to get through the strait until the blockade’s workings are clear.
Trump’s blockade has also raised alarm among Asian nations that are heavily dependent on energy and fuel exports from the Middle East. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on global stakeholders to push for peace talks between Tehran and Washington, according to data released by Beijing on Monday.
Any move to ban the Chinese vessel would unsettle markets and sentiment even more.
“At best, Trump’s announcement is a paper tiger. At worst, it means escalation,” said Carlos Casanova, chief Asia economist at Union Bancaire Privee in Hong Kong.
Rich Starry said it was sailing under the flag of Malawi, but the landlocked African nation said it had no official registry for ocean-going ships.
Rich Starry is owned by Full Star Shipping Ltd. which shares the same contact details as Shanghai Xuanrun Shpg. What. Ltd., the marine database Equasis shows. A call to Shanghai Xuanrun was not returned, while the company did not respond to an email request for comment. The Shanghai-based entity is also sanctioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Elpis is owned by Chartchemical SA, which uses its manager, contact details of IMS Ltd. A call to IMS located in Malaysia could not be connected. IMS did not respond to an email request for comment.
With help from Dan Murtaugh.
This article was generated from an automated news agency source without text modification.
