The CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean — two container ships linked to China's state-owned COSCO Shipping Corp. — attempted to exit the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz before making abrupt U-turns and heading back into the Gulf, Bloomberg reported on March 27. The incident marks the first time that COSCO-linked ships have tried to transit the strait since Iran started striking ships as part of its war with the United States and Israel.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has declined more than 90% since the outbreak of war in the Middle East on Feb. 28. Prior to the conflict, about 140 ships passed through the strait per day, and this number has now largely sunk to five or fewer. There has not been a significant increase in ships successfully transiting the strait since Iran announced on March 24 that it would allow non-hostile nations to use the strait.