Bloomberg cited on Friday (May 15) the message of two maritime security consultants who declined to reveal their names, stating that Iran detained a ship owned by a Chinese shipowner on Thursday. The vessel is one of the few in the region engaged in “maritime weapons storage” operations.
Hong Kong-based maritime security company Sinoguards stated in a press release that Iran detained one of its vessels, the “Hui Chuan,” when it entered Iranian waters on Thursday. Earlier, the British Navy issued an alert, stating that an unauthorized group detained a commercial ship at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.
It is currently unclear why Iran detained this vessel. This occurred after Iran issued a statement on Thursday. Iran claimed to allow Chinese vessels passage through the Strait of Hormuz, implying cooperation between the two countries. China has long been the largest buyer of Iranian oil.
Sinoguards mentioned that the “Hui Chuan” is currently undergoing document and compliance checks in Iranian waters.
The company did not respond to Bloomberg’s inquiry about whether the vessel was a maritime weapons depot, only referring to it as a maritime operations platform vessel in the statement.
According to the company’s website, the “Hui Chuan” provides security services for vessels passing through dangerous waters such as the Indian Ocean, including armed guards. One of Sinoguards’ permanent bases is located in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, a port outside the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman.
The company said in a statement on Friday, “We are working closely with the relevant authorities and have submitted the necessary vessel and crew documents.” The statement also added that there is currently no indication of crew members being injured.
Vessels like the “Hui Chuan” are known as Vessel-Borne Arsenal (VBA), storing firearms in international waters as part of their security services. Such vessels also serve as rest points for private military and security company personnel, allowing them to wait for embarkation and disembarkation.
The “Hui Chuan” flies the flag of Honduras and was built in 1984.
According to its website, Sinoguards was founded in 2013 and primarily recruits veterans from Ukraine and Nepal. The company also claims to be a neutral entity with no affiliation with any government or armed forces.