Lan-Jing

The latest crossings of the Strait of Hormuz included the 'Skywave' and the 'Wen Yao' on March 13, 2026. The 'Wen Yao' appeared to have been the first sanctioned vessel to have transited the Strait without turning off its AIS, while still deep within the Gulf, diverging from the typical concealment practices often associated with shadow fleet activities.

The coastal police of the Kochi port filed a case of unnatural death after the master of the 'Wen Yao' was reported dead onboard the crude oil tank off the coast of the island of Kavaratti, Lakshadweep on Dec 27. As per the police, the time of his death was reported to be 1115 hrs, Dec 27, when the vessel was sailing by the Kavaratti Island. The vessel went to the outer anchorage area of the Port of Cochin, India. Then the police boarded the vessel and investigated. The captain's body was taken to the morgue of Ernakulam General Hospital, and the autopsy iws s scheduled for Dec 29. According to the crew members, the captain was alright. He had gas and digestion issues and slight chest pain. Despite taking treatment on the vessel, he died. The coastal police officer mentioned that the vessel would be allowed to go only after the autopsy reports.

The master of the 'Wen Yao' died on board on Dec 27, 2022, while the tanker sailing off Kochi port in the Arabian Sea en route from Singapore to the United Arab Emirates. The ship interrupted the voyage and sailed to Kochi Anchorage, where it anchored in the afternoon of Dec 28. The body of the 43-year old man of Indian nationality was transferred to hospital. He reportedly died from illness, no foul play was suspected. As of Dec 29, the ship remained stationary in pos. 09° 54.40'N 076° 07.11' E.