US-Sanctioned Tanker Tests Trump Blockade With Hormuz Exit

A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China is sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf of Oman, testing President Donald Trump’s naval blockade.Author of the article:You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China is sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf of Oman, testing President Donald Trump’s naval blockade.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Rich Starry, a medium-range tanker earlier known as Full Star, was blacklisted by Washington in 2023 for helping Tehran evade energy sanctions. It is not clear on this occasion whether it visited Iranian ports before its transit, or is carrying cargo.The exit is a second attempt for the carrier, which began a first as the US blockade came into effect on Monday, only to turn back. It then restarted hours later, and appeared to turn the bend into the eastern side of Hormuz on Tuesday. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Shipowners, energy traders and investors across financial markets have been keenly following its route through Hormuz as they try to understand the latest US effort to pressure Tehran and curb its oil revenues — and how it will work in practice. “The real issue is not simply whether ships can pass through Hormuz, but what spectrum of enforcement options US warships apply, and where they choose to apply them,” said Charlie Brown, an advisor to United Against Nuclear Iran, a US lobby and pressure group focused on Tehran.Rich Starry initially transmitted that it had a Chinese owner and crew — a common safety mechanism for ships crossing the strait during the current conflict in the Persian Gulf, and one that could test Washington’s resolve to challenge vessels tied to the world’s largest oil importer. The tanker has now switched to indicating the Omani port of Sohar as its destination, according to ship-tracking data show.Throughout the crossing, the tanker’s location signals have not been consistent. Vessels in the area have regularly been impacted by electronic interference which can produce inaccurate speed and location reports.Another tanker, the Elpis, was in the strait and headed into the Gulf of Oman just as the blockade began. It appears to have stopped out of the narrow waterway and off the Iranian coast. Ship-tracking platforms Kpler and Vortexa indicate that Elpis had docked at an Iranian port in the gulf before attempting to pass through Hormuz, meaning it would be a potential target for a patrolling US navy vessel.The ship was sanctioned by the US last year under its former name, Chamtang, over its links to the Iranian oil trade.Most shipowners reached by Bloomberg across the Middle East and Asia — who now face the need to clear both Iranian and US approvals to exit the Persian Gulf — said they would pause any effort to make their way through the strait until the workings of the blockade are clear.Trump’s blockade has also sparked alarm among Asian nations that rely heavily on Middle Eastern energy and fuel exports. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged global stakeholders to push for peace talks between Tehran and Washington, according to a readout released by Beijing on Monday. Any effort to interdict a Chinese vessel would unsettle markets and sentiment further.“At best, Trump’s announcement is a paper tiger. At worst, it marks an escalation,” said Carlos Casanova, senior Asia economist at Union Bancaire Privee in Hong Kong.The Rich Starry has indicated it is sailing under a Malawi flag, but the landlocked African nation has said it has no official registry for oceangoing ships.Rich Starry is owned by Full Star Shipping Ltd., which shares the same contact details as Shanghai Xuanrun Shpg. Co. Ltd., maritime database Equasis shows. A call made to Shanghai Xuanrun did not get through, while the company didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment. The Shanghai-based entity is also sanctioned by the State Department.Elpis’s owner is Chartchemical SA that uses its manager, IMS Ltd.’s contact details. A call made to Malaysia-based IMS failed to connect. IMS did not respond to an emailed request for comment.—With assistance from Dan Murtaugh.(Updates throughout to include latest movement in paragraph three and market reaction.)Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.