The first Chinese-funded container ship passes through Hormuz, and the shipping company announces a detour to resume bookings in the Middle East
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Against the backdrop of continued restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz,A feeder container ship with a Chinese investment background successfully crossed the strait through the "pay-to-pass" method, becoming the first ship confirmed to be associated with Chinese ownership and complete transit through Iran's "safe channel."Meanwhile, another unlicensed container ship was"Encouragement to return".
This pattern of coexistence of "passage" and "detour" reflects that Persian Gulf shipping is currently entering a new stage of highly controlled and rule-reconstructed shipping.
The first Chinese-funded ship to "pay passage"
According to Lloyd's List, a feeder container ship named "Newvoyager" successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz recently. Ship information shows that the ship flies the Panama flag, and the registered ship owner and ship management company are both domestic companies. Industry sources said that the passage was coordinated through the China Maritime Service Agency, with an intermediary paying the Iranian side on its behalf. Although the specific amount has not been disclosed, this case once again confirms that a new model of "paid passage approval and release" has emerged in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ship tracking data shows that the "Newvoyager" appeared in the waters near Larak Island on March 22, then sailed along the southern coast of Iran and broadcast the "DUQM ALL CREW CHINA" message through AIS. It is worth noting that the ship's AIS signal was interrupted for 16 days, partly due to widespread satellite signal interference in the area. The trajectory shows that the ship left Jebel Ali on February 21 and entered the Bandar Abbas anchorage in Iran on March 2. Currently, the ship has entered the central waters of the Gulf of Oman, and the AIS shows the destination port is Duqm Port, Oman.
Analysts pointed out that the ship has long been involved in the operation of Iran-related routes and frequently travels between Bandar Abbas Port and Jebel Ali. This background may become an important factor in its smooth passage.
Being “persuaded to return” without permission
In contrast to "pay-to-pass", ships that do not operate in accordance with the rules are facing stricter control. According to reports, a container ship named "Selen" was ordered by Iran to return as it approached the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz because it failed to comply with relevant procedures and obtain a passage permit. AIS data showed that the ship originally planned to sail from the United Arab Emirates to Pakistan, but suddenly turned around and returned to the Persian Gulf when approaching the strait. Iran has made it clear that all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must coordinate with its maritime authorities in advance, otherwise they will face interception or expulsion.
This incident shows that the current channel traffic in the strait has changed from the traditional "free navigation" to the "permit system screening system", and the shipping rules have undergone fundamental changes.
Mainstream shipping companies take detours to resume bookings
Unlike individual ships trying to pass, mainstream liner companies still choose to avoid risks. March 25,COSCO Shipping Lines issued a correction notice, announcing the resumption of booking business for multiple countries from the Far East to the Middle East. It also made it clear that ships currently do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the latest plan, COSCO Shipping adopts"Sea transport land bridge branch line" multimodal transport model:Mainline ships transport goods to ports outside the strait (such as Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar), transship them by truck, rail or barge, and then distribute them to destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. This model means that what is restored this time is the service capacity rather than the traditional direct flight network.
From "route competition" to "channel game"
Taken together, the current shipping in the Persian Gulf is experiencing three major changes: First, the traffic mechanism is restructured, from "free navigation" to "approval payment screening", and waterway control rights are significantly enhanced; second, transportation routes are reorganized, the direct shipping model is broken, and multimodal transport and regional hubs have become key supports; third, risks and costs are rising, and comprehensive expenses such as tolls, war risks, and transshipment costs continue to rise, and the transportation chain is longer and more complex.
From the breakthrough of "paid passage" to the mainstream choice of "detour operation", the Strait of Hormuz is entering a new operational stage. For shipping companies, the current competition is not only about transportation capacity and price, but also the ability to reconstruct the supply chain in an uncertain environment. For cargo owners, stable arrival at the port is gradually replacing cost as the core consideration.
