The Ocean-Lily: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On May 20, 2026, two Chinese tankers, the 'Yuan Gui Yang' and the 'Ocean Lily', made a significant exit from the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded in the Gulf region for over two months. These vessels are hauling a total of four million barrels of crude oil sourced from the Middle East. The 'Yuan Gui Yang', operated by Unipec—the trading affiliate of Sinopec—loaded approximately two million barrels of Basrah crude oil from Iraq on February 27, just a day before tensions escalated due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. This Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) is on track to arrive at Shuidong Port, located near Maoming city in Guangdong province, where it will unload its precious cargo on June 4. Meanwhile, the 'Ocean Lily', owned by the Chinese energy giant Sinochem, has been busy too. It loaded a mix of one million barrels each of al-Shaheen crude from Qatar and Basrah crude from Iraq between late February and early March. This vessel is anticipated to reach Quanzhou Port in Fujian province on June 5. The successful navigation of these tankers highlights the logistical resilience and ongoing energy strategies of Chinese companies in a challenging geopolitical landscape.