Iran Seizes Chinese-Owned ‘Floating Armory’ Ship Near Hormuz

By Weilun Soon and Alex Longley (Bloomberg) — Iran seized a Chinese-owned ship that’s one of a handful of so-called floating armories that operate in the region, according to two maritime security consultants who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information.

Hong Kong-based Sinoguards, a maritime security firm, said in a statement that Tehran’s forces took one of its ships, the Hui Chuan, into Iranian waters on Thursday. That followed an alert from a UK naval group that a commercial ship was apprehended by unauthorized personnel at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.

It’s unclear why Iran has taken the vessel