French Container Ship Crosses Strait of Hormuz, First Western European Transit Since War

Apr 4, 2026

First Western European-Linked Vessel Transits Hormuz Since Conflict

A container ship displaying French ownership has become the initial vessel with ties to Western Europe to navigate the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran. The Maltese-flagged CMA CGM Kribi, operated by the globe’s third-biggest container shipping firm, commenced an eastbound journey from near Dubai on Thursday.

Tracking information revealed the ship transmitted its French affiliation while passing Iran’s coast via the designated channel between Qeshm and Larak islands. Since the beginning of March, this vessel, along with numerous other non-Iranian ships, had been stationary in the Gulf as the war drastically reduced merchant shipping. The transit by the Saade family-controlled company was reportedly arranged in consultation with Iranian officials.

Its destination is understood to be Pointe Noire in Congo, on a route connecting India, the Gulf region, and Africa. This movement comes after prior transits by ships associated with China. This development may prompt other shipping lines to restart voyages, provided the route demonstrates dependability in the near future.

Regional Security and Economic Developments

Also on Thursday, Iranian state media reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated the nation is preparing a draft agreement with Oman aimed at safeguarding navigation through the strait. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is said to be pursuing toll charges initiating at one dollar per barrel, with potential payment in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency stablecoins.

Reported negotiations involve a potential mandate for vessels to provide comprehensive information to intermediaries connected to the IRGC for clearance, utilizing a national ranking system to govern access.

LNG Tanker Attempts Transit

In a separate occurrence, an LNG carrier entered the strait, marking a potential first for such a vessel since the conflict started. According to positional data, the unladen Sohar LNG altered its heading toward Oman’s Qalhat LNG terminal and proceeded eastward through the passage on Thursday. A successful crossing would signify the inaugural movement of a liquefied natural gas tanker since the war’s commencement.

These endeavors signal a slow resurgence of varied ship categories to the area. Although container carriers have pioneered recent trial passages, energy transport ships, including oil tankers and gas carriers, had predominantly steered clear of this critical waterway due to elevated peril and the halt of conventional insurance.

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