London – Ship tracking data showed that two Chinese container ships turned back after attempting to exit the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. This occurred despite assurances from Iran that Chinese vessels could pass safely.
According to Reuters, the Chinese company COSCO operates both ships. COSCO issued a memo to customers on March 25. The company stated it had resumed general cargo bookings for shipments from Asia to several countries. These destinations include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq.
The two ships are the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Both vessels fly the Hong Kong flag. They have remained stuck in the Gulf since the start of the American-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.