Exclusive: Stranded Chinese Container Ships Begin Crossing Strait of Hormuz
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Commercial vessels sail near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, on March 22. Photo: VCG
Two container ships owned by China’s Cosco Shipping Lines Co. Ltd. have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz to return home, potentially marking the resumption of passage for Chinese fleets stranded in the Persian Gulf.
The 20,000-twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels, which had been held west of the strait, set off on Friday, Caixin has learned. They were traveling empty and marked as “China Owner.”
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- Two empty Cosco container ships began transiting the Strait of Hormuz via an Iran-established "safe corridor" after weeks of Iranian blockade amid regional conflict.
- Most Chinese cargo ships remain stranded, pending negotiations between China and Iran and the issuance of transit guidelines.
- Cosco cautiously resumed operations, restoring container bookings to Gulf countries and delivering goods to Oman’s Sohar Port.
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Who’s Who
- Cosco Shipping Lines Co. Ltd.
- Cosco Shipping Lines Co. Ltd. is the container unit of state-owned China Cosco Shipping Corp. Ltd. Two of their container ships are transiting the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded. These empty vessels are using an Iran-established "safe corridor." The company has also resumed new bookings for general containers from the Far East to Gulf countries, indicating a cautious restoration of operations despite ongoing uncertainties.
- China Cosco Shipping Corp. Ltd.
- China Cosco Shipping Corp. Ltd. (COSCO Shipping) is a state-owned Chinese company, and its container unit, Cosco Shipping Lines Co. Ltd., operates China's largest fleet stranded in the Persian Gulf. Two of its empty container ships have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz via a "safe corridor" after weeks of being held due to regional conflict. The company is cautiously resuming operations, including new bookings, amid ongoing security evaluations and negotiations.
- Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd.
- Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd. is currently evaluating the security situation to determine when its ships might pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The company has significant assets trapped in the Persian Gulf, including crude carriers, oil tankers, and a car carrier.
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What Happened When
- March 4, 2026：
- Cosco Shipping Lines suspended global shipments to Gulf countries following the outbreak of the war.
- March 25, 2026：
- Cosco Shipping Lines announced the resumption of new bookings for general containers from the Far East to Gulf countries.
- March 26, 2026：
- Cosco Shipping Lines’ 20,000-TEU container ship Aquarius docked at Oman’s Sohar Port, delivering nearly 200,000 tons of goods to Gulf countries.
- March 26, 2026：
- A person at the securities department of Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd. stated that the company was still evaluating the security situation regarding the passage of its ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
- March 27, 2026：
- Two Cosco Shipping Lines container ships began transiting the Strait of Hormuz, traveling empty and marked as 'China Owner.'
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