Chinese-linked tanker catches fire near Strait of Hormuz as China voices "deep concern"
Beijing says Chinese crew members were aboard the vessel but no casualties have been reported, as maritime traffic through the Gulf faces growing disruption.
A Chinese-linked oil products tanker believed to be the JV Innovation caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, raising fresh concern over the safety of commercial shipping in one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.
China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Friday that an oil products tanker carrying Chinese crew members had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz area. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said there were Chinese nationals on board, but that no crew casualties had been reported so far. Beijing said it was “deeply concerned” about vessels and seafarers caught in the region’s escalating conflict.
Chinese authorities have not officially named the vessel. However, maritime security sources cited by Reuters said the damaged ship was believed to be the Marshall Islands-flagged oil products and chemical tanker JV Innovation, which reported a fire on its deck to nearby ships on Monday. The incident occurred off the United Arab Emirates coast in the Gulf, near Mina Saqr.
The JV Innovation is listed as a chemical and oil products tanker sailing under the Marshall Islands flag. Vessel-tracking data identifies it as IMO 9276688, built in 2004, with a deadweight capacity of about 44,508 tonnes.
The attack comes amid severe disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Reuters reported that hundreds of ships and roughly 20,000 seafarers remain stranded inside the Gulf as renewed attacks have severely disrupted traffic through the strait.
China’s response reflects the growing risks for Asian energy importers and shipping companies operating in the region. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical passage for oil and gas shipments, and Beijing has called for the restoration of safe, unimpeded navigation.
Details about the cause of the fire and who was responsible for the attack remain unclear. ABC News reported that the tanker’s chief engineer, who had left the vessel before the incident as part of a crew rotation, said it was still unclear who fired on the ship. The vessel reportedly remained operational, with crew members still on board.
