French-owned ship passes through Strait of Hormuz

A French-owned container vessel has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, representing a significant development in the region's maritime operations more than a month after the US-Israeli conflict with Iran effectively disrupted this critical shipping lane.

The Malta-flagged container ship, operated by French maritime giant CMA CGM, completed its passage through the strait on Friday, according to confirmation from BFM TV, the media organization owned by the shipping company. CMA CGM has declined to provide additional comments on the matter.

This transit marks a notable milestone as the first vessel owned by a major Western European company to successfully cross the waterway since hostilities commenced, according to verification by shipping analysts at Kpler.

While Iranian authorities have stated that "non-hostile vessels" are permitted to utilize the waterway, the ongoing military conflict—which has resulted in multiple vessel attacks—has severely curtailed normal maritime transport operations throughout the region.

Tracking data indicates the French-owned vessel maintained proximity to the Omani coastline, positioning itself on the opposite side of the waterway from Iranian territory. The specific cargo contents of the vessel remain undisclosed.

A Japanese oil tanker subsequently followed an identical route through the strait, demonstrating continued, albeit limited, commercial navigation in the area.

Multiple vessels that traversed the strait on Thursday adopted "unusually close" proximity to the Omani coast, according to Lloyd's List, the maritime news and intelligence service.

US President Donald Trump has indicated America's potential capability to restore full strait operations, stating on Truth Social: "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 of Hormuz serves as a vital conduit for approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports from Gulf nations, making its operational status critical to international energy markets.

When hostilities began in late February, maritime operations were suspended, resulting in approximately 200 vessels becoming stranded in surrounding waters, according to Lloyd's List data.

The dramatic reduction in strait traffic has triggered substantial increases in global oil prices, subsequently driving fuel cost escalations and generating concerns about worldwide inflationary pressures.

Despite the conflict's impact, maritime traffic has not ceased entirely. Current shipping volumes through the narrow waterway have decreased by approximately 95% compared to pre-conflict levels.

BBC Verify analysis from late March indicates that roughly 100 vessels have managed to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, averaging five to six ships daily.

Approximately one-third of these transiting vessels maintained connections to Iran, while the remaining ships were linked to various countries including Pakistan and India, according to Verify's confirmation.