Taiwan in talks with Iran to free flag-carrier box ships from the Gulf

Photo: Wan Hai Lines By Alison Koo 11/05/2026 Taiwan’s government is bidding to secure safe passage for eight stranded domestically owned ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. They include seven containerships, belonging to Evergreen, Yang Ming, and Wan Hai Lines. Using SeaSearcher, The Loadstar could trace six: Evergreen’s 9,466 teu Ever Lotus, 8,488 teu Ever Lovely, and 5,652 teu Ever Unicorn; Yang Ming’s 2,940 teu YM Credibility and the chartered 4,444 teu Marianetta; and Wan Hai’s 13,100 teu Wan Hai A07. Maritime Port Bureau director-general Yeh Hsieh-lung said on Friday that the ministries of transportation and communications (MOTC) and  foreign affairs (MOFA) met on Thursday to discuss responses to Taiwane vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf. MOFA has already initiated contact with the Iranian authorities and is simultaneously consulting with like-minded countries on their handling methods for future reference. Mr Yeh said: “MOFA will continue to attempt to communicate with relevant Iranian authorities, closely monitor the evolving situation, and maintain contact with the MOTC to jointly assist Taiwanese shipping companies. “The government is continuously monitoring the latest developments and conditions of the eight affected vessels daily.” Mr Yeh stressed that all 175 crew members on the eight vessels were safe and their supplies normal. Four of them are Taiwanese. Shipping consultancy Kpler said in a recent note that, of the 53 container vessels initially trapped when transits became untenable, only nine have successfully left the Strait of Hormuz. Two – Cosco’s CSCL Arctic Ocean and CSCL Indian Ocean – required two attempts to make it through. Two MSC vessels, the 11,660 teu MSC Francesca and 6,660 teu Epaminondas, were seized by Iran, and the Hapag-Lloyd-chartered 3,200 teu Source Blessing sustained damage when struck by debris. Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd confirmed to The Loadstar that one of its ships, the 4,253 teu Tema Express, had sailed out of the strait two weeks ago, but declined to provide details on how the escape was secured. The German operator’s spokesperson said: “We still have four [ships] in the Persian Gulf, with around 100 seafarers, as the charter agreement for one additional vessel has since expired, meaning it no longer belongs to the Hapag-Lloyd fleet.”

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• May 12th, 2026
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