HORMUZ - TANKER TESTS TRUMP'S NAVAL BLOCKADE - CHINESE SHIP THAT IS ON THE US BLACKLIST PASSED BY - Filenews 14/4
A Chinese tanker, which has been sanctioned by the US, passed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite a naval blockade.
This is the Rich Starry, formerly known as Full Star, which will be the first to cross Hormuz and exit the Gulf since the blockade began, according to data from LSEG, MarineTraffic and Kpler and as reported by Reuters and Bloomberg.
Rich Starr was blacklisted by Washington in 2023 with the accusation of helping Tehran circumvent energy sanctions.
The Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker carrying approximately 250,000 barrels of methanol. He loaded the cargo at the last port of call, Hamriyah in the United Arab Emirates.
The Chinese-owned tanker has a Chinese crew.
At the same time, another tanker, the Murlikishan, which has been sanctioned by the US, also headed for Hormuz, according to LSEG data and as reported by Reuters. The empty tanker is expected to load oil into Iraq on April 16, according to data from Kpler. The ship, formerly known as MKA, has been carrying Russian and Iranian oil.
Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, another tanker, the Elpis, headed to the Gulf of Oman via Hormuz just as the blockade began. Ship tracking platforms Kpler and Vortexa show that Elpis had anchored in an Iranian port in the Gulf before attempting to pass through Hormuz.
