A US-sanctioned Chinese tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday despite a US blockade, Reuters reported, citing data from specialized shipping tracking platforms, BTA reported.
"Rich Starry" appears to be the first ship to pass through the Strait and exit Persian Gulf since blockade began, according to data from LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), MarineTraffic and Kpler.
The tanker and its owner, "Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd", were sanctioned by the US for working with Iran. The company could not be reached for comment.
"Rich Stari" is a medium-sized tanker carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol. It was loaded at its last port of call, Hamriya in the United Arab Emirates. The tanker's crew is Chinese, the data showed.
Another U.S.-sanctioned tanker, the "Murlikishan", also headed for the strait today, LSEG data showed. The smaller, "handysize" tanker, which is empty, is expected to load fuel oil in Iraq on April 16, Kpler data showed. The vessel, formerly known as the MKA, has transported Russian and Iranian oil.