BEIJING: Chinese state-owned shipping major COSCO Shipping Lines has instructed its vessels operating in or heading toward the Gulf region to shift to safer locations, following escalating instability after US-Israeli military strikes on Iran.
The Shanghai-headquartered firm said ships already inside Gulf waters should complete operations where possible and then move to secure areas to anchor or remain on standby.
Vessels en route to the region have been advised to reduce speed, prioritize navigational safety, and wait for further directions at protected anchor points if required, according to AFP.
The decision comes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor. Several international shipping companies have since paused or limited their activities in the area.
COSCO added that it is reviewing emergency arrangements for cargo aboard affected ships, including the possibility of redirecting consignments to alternative ports if necessary.
Other global maritime operators, including Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company, have also suspended operations in parts of the region due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, media reports from Oman stated that an oil tanker off its coastline was struck, leaving four crew members injured. Separately, British authorities confirmed that a vessel near the coast of the United Arab Emirates reported being hit by an unidentified projectile that sparked a fire onboard.
The situation has further heightened concerns over maritime security and global energy supply routes amid deepening regional conflict.
