First Chinese Ship Passes Strait of Hormuz Since War Shut Route
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A Chinese-flagged bulk carrier has become the first Chinese vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the waterway was effectively closed during the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, offering an early sign that shipping traffic may begin to resume.
In the early hours of March 11, the Run Chen 2 — a 33,000-ton timber carrier owned by Jiangsu Runchang Shipping Co. Ltd. — sailed eastward from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Sea, according to people familiar with the matter. It is the first Chinese-flagged vessel known to have made the passage since commercial shipping through the strait was effectively halted on March 1.
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- On March 11, the first Chinese-flagged bulk carrier transited the Strait of Hormuz since its closure on March 1 during the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, signaling tentative shipping resumption.
- Most high-value vessels remain anchored due to security risks, while diverted tankers crowd Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port, stretching capacity to its 2.5 million barrels-per-day limit.
- The strait remains dangerous with a "critical" threat level; concrete security measures and a full reopening are still pending.
- Jiangsu Runchang Shipping Co. Ltd.
- Jiangsu Runchang Shipping Co. Ltd. is the owner of the **Run Chen 2**, a 33,000-ton timber carrier. This Chinese-flagged vessel was the first Chinese ship known to transit the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, following a period where the waterway was effectively closed. Its passage eastward from the Persian Gulf into the Arabian Sea marked an early indication of resuming shipping traffic after recent conflicts.
- COSCO Shipping
- COSCO Shipping, a Chinese company, has two 19,000-TEU container ships, CSCL Arctic Ocean and CSCL Indian Ocean, stranded inside the Persian Gulf. These, along with other vessels, are awaiting clearance to sail through the Strait of Hormuz after its closure.
- Pacific International Lines
- Pacific International Lines, a Singapore-based company, has no current timetable for resuming transits through the Strait of Hormuz. Citing ongoing safety concerns, the company has elected to avoid the waterway following recent attacks on merchant vessels in the region.
- March 1, 2026：
- Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was effectively halted.
- After March 1, 2026：
- More than a dozen Chinese VLCCs east of the Strait of Hormuz diverted to Yanbu, Saudi Arabia after the closure; Saudi Arabia accelerated use of its East-West crude pipeline.
- March 3, 2026：
- There were just over 10 tankers waiting to load oil at Yanbu.
- March 10, 2026：
- Multiple attacks on merchant vessels took place in the region.
- March 10, 2026：
- President Trump said he expected the war to end soon, causing a rally in U.S. stock markets; Iran and Israel responded, with Tehran rejecting the U.S.-imposed timeline and Israel stating its military operations were ongoing.
- March 11, 2026 (early hours)：
- The Chinese-flagged bulk carrier Run Chen 2 became the first Chinese vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since commercial shipping was halted.
- March 11, 2026：
- Three other bulk carriers operated by Chinese companies transited the strait, listing their destination as 'China owner.'
- By midday March 11, 2026：
- AIS data showed many large Chinese vessels gathered at anchorages north of the United Arab Emirates while awaiting clearance to sail.
- As of March 11, 2026：
- Nearly 80 tankers were waiting to load at Yanbu, up from just over 10 on March 3, 2026.
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