6 Chinese-Linked Tankers Cross Hormuz Amid Iran’s Sea-Based Crude Exports Halt for 28 Days

13/05/2026

DUBAI, May 13: At least six Chinese-owned or operated tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday despite significantly reduced shipping traffic in the strategic waterway, according to maritime tracking data and open-source intelligence reports.

The vessels reportedly included DEEPBLUE, APEX GAS, QUAR, STARWAY, AQUILA, YUAN HUA HU, and the vehicle carrier CIANG JIANG KOU, all of which were tracked crossing the strait during the day.

The development comes as maritime analytics group TankerTrackers.com reported that Iran has not successfully exported crude oil by sea for the past 28 days.

According to the group, its assessment is based on vessel tracking data and a definition of exports that requires tankers carrying Iranian crude to move beyond a monitored naval blockade line.

TankerTrackers said some refined petroleum products have continued to be exported, attributing this to the absence of sanctions by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control on certain tankers involved in those shipments.

The group also noted that several tankers remain idle or stationed both inside and outside what it described as a blockade perimeter, while other cargo-carrying vessels were clustered near Pakistani waters.