French-owned ship passes through Strait of Hormuz
French-Owned Ship Navigates Through Strait of Hormuz
Following a month-long disruption, a vessel under French ownership recently traversed the Strait of Hormuz. The ship, registered under Malta’s flag and operated by the French firm CMA CGM, was confirmed to have crossed the critical passage by BFM TV, a media outlet affiliated with the company. CMA CGM chose not to provide additional remarks.
Shipping analysts at Kpler noted that this marks the first instance of a major Western European enterprise’s vessel using the strait since the conflict erupted. Despite Iran’s assertion that “non-hostile vessels” may still transit the waterway, the ongoing hostilities—resulting in several attacks on ships—have significantly curtailed regular traffic.
Tracking data revealed the French-owned ship passed near Oman’s coastline, on the opposite side from Iran. Its cargo remains unspecified. Concurrently, a Japanese ship transporting natural gas also exited the strait, as reported by Japanese shipping giant MOL.
“The safety of the vessel and all crew members have been confirmed,” MOL stated. “We will continue to place the highest priority on ensuring the safety of our crew, cargo, and vessels as operations proceed.”
Conflict Halts Regular Traffic
Maritime intelligence service Lloyd’s List highlighted that ships navigating the strait on Thursday approached Oman’s coast unusually closely. US President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with allies on Truth Social, claiming, “With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A ‘GUSHER’ FOR THE WORLD???”
The strait serves as a key conduit for approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquid natural gas. When the conflict began in late February, commercial shipping was suspended, stranding roughly 200 vessels in nearby waters, according to Lloyd’s List. This has led to a 95% decline in traffic compared to pre-conflict levels, though movement has not ceased entirely.
As of late March, BBC Verify data indicated around 100 ships managed to pass through the narrow passage, averaging five to six daily. Of these, roughly a third were associated with Iran, while others linked to nations such as Pakistan and India.
