Chinese Cargo Ships Turn Back at Hormuz Despite Iran’s Transit Promise

Two Chinese container vessels reversed course while attempting to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, even after Iran promised safe passage for Chinese ships. The incident highlights ongoing maritime challenges in the Gulf region amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that began in late February.

Two Chinese cargo vessels abandoned their effort to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to maritime tracking information, even though Iran had guaranteed safe transit for Chinese ships.

The shipping company COSCO had announced in a client notice on March 25 that it was accepting cargo bookings again for routes from Asia to several Middle Eastern destinations including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.

Both vessels – the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, registered under Hong Kong flags – have remained trapped in Gulf waters since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran started on February 28.

Maritime data from Kpler shows the ships made their transit attempt at 0350 GMT Friday morning before reversing direction and heading back.

This marked the first time a major shipping company had attempted such a crossing since hostilities began, but the failed passage demonstrated that “safe passage could not be guaranteed,” according to Kpler analyst Rebecca Gerdes.

Earlier this week, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on social media that his country “permitted passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan.”

Ship tracking data revealed that both Chinese vessels had transmitted messages through their AIS systems indicating Chinese ownership and crew members aboard.

COSCO Shipping, the Shanghai-based parent company, did not respond to requests for comment.

Iran’s maritime attacks and threats have left hundreds of ships and approximately 20,000 crew members stranded in Gulf waters. Critical energy shipments, including Saudi crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas, have come to a virtual standstill.

President Donald Trump stated Thursday that Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in what appeared to be a diplomatic gesture during ongoing negotiations.

No specific information has emerged about these tankers or whether any successfully completed the transit following Trump’s remarks.

A small number of other vessels have managed to depart recently, including Indian-flagged tankers transporting cooking gas and a Thai oil tanker that coordinated its passage through diplomatic channels, according to Thai officials and the vessel’s operating company.

Recent maritime traffic has primarily consisted of Iranian oil tankers leaving the area and bulk cargo ships bringing grain and other supplies into Iran, based on data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence and maritime analysis.

Iranian officials have maintained their position that certain vessels may receive transit permission, but Tehran reserves the right to make those determinations while blocking ships connected to the United States, Israel, or their allies.

“Aggressor parties – namely, the United States and the Israeli regime – as well as other participants in the aggression, do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage,” Iran stated in a March 24 communication to member nations of the International Maritime Organization, the UN’s shipping agency.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi suggested during a Friday phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart that beginning peace negotiations would help “restore normal navigation” through the Hormuz waterway.