'We Were Attacked': Chinese Sailor Reports Gunfire On Barbadian-Flagged Ship In Hormuz

Last Updated:March 20, 2026, 17:54 IST

The messages, in Chinese, were shared by a worker whose ship has been stuck in the Gulf since the conflict began.

A Chinese sailor on the bulk carrier Ocean Pretty, sailing under a Barbadian flag, said their vessel came under gunfire and rocket launcher attacks while trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reported on Friday.

The sailor, whose messages were shared in a Chinese-language WeChat group, wrote, “We were attacked." He added that no crew members were injured.

The WeChat conversation, provided by a worker whose ship has been stuck in the Gulf since the conflict began, shows the dangers faced by international crews navigating the strait amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Other sailors in the group expressed concern and camaraderie. One wrote, “You guys are really stubborn," while another added, “Crossing the seas… it’s just lucky that no one was hurt." The original poster replied, “We’re just hard-headed."

The Ocean Pretty is now stranded near the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, “waiting to be inspected," the sailor said. MarineTraffic data confirmed the vessel’s position off Bandar Abbas on Friday. He also noted that the crew received no warning before the attack.

Sailors in the chat discussed the risks of navigating the strait, which remains largely blocked since US-Israeli strikes began, and debated whether it is worth taking such dangers for potential bonuses.

Several mentioned Chinese flags raised while attempting to pass safely, cautioning against taking unnecessary risks.

The messages give a vivid picture of the tense conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for global oil that has seen minimal traffic during the ongoing conflict. According to Bridget Diakun, an analyst at Lloyd’s List Intelligence, around 10 per cent of the few vessels passing through recently are Chinese-owned or flagged.

(With inputs from AFP)

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