On May 20, 2026, a South Korean supertanker, the Universal Winner, has embarked on a significant journey, attempting its inaugural transit through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying Kuwaiti crude oil. The vessel, owned by HMM Co., has been reportedly navigating just south of Iran’s Larak Island, an area recognized for approved transit routes. Its destination is Ulsan, South Korea, following a previous incident where another of HMM’s vessels was attacked in the strait earlier this month.
Additionally, two Chinese supertankers, the Ocean Lily and Yuan Gui Yang, were also noted to be attempting similar crossings on the same day. The Ocean Lily, en route from Qatar and Iraq to Quanzhou, ceased its location broadcasts, while the Yuan Gui Yang, loaded with Iraqi oil heading to Shuidong, has remained stationary for hours. Successful transits by these three vessels would contribute to an uptick in crude shipments via this critical corridor, marking one of the highest levels of supertanker traffic since the onset of conflict in the Middle East in late February.
The Ocean Lily is managed by Sinochem Shipping Co., Hainan, and owned by Able Best Development Ltd., while the Yuan Gui Yang is associated with Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation. As of now, neither Sinochem nor Cosco have provided comments regarding these developments.
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