Chinese Supertanker Breaches Strait of Hormuz Blockade as UAE Ramps Up Oil Transfers

A Chinese supertanker has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, breaking through a near-total bottleneck caused by a dual naval blockade by the U.S. and Iran.

On Wednesday morning local time, the Chinese-flagged, 310,000-ton very large crude carrier, or VLCC, Yuan Hua Hu sailed out of the Persian Gulf through the heavily contested strait. The vessel was fully loaded with crude oil sourced from Iraq’s Al Basrah Oil Terminal. A large car carrier, the Xiang Jiang Kou, exited the strait alongside it.