A Maltese-flagged container ship, the Kribi, operated by French shipping company CMA CGM, has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz from the Persian Gulf, marking what appears to be the first transit by a vessel linked to Western Europe since recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted traffic over a month ago. According to ship-tracking data, the Kribi stayed close to Iran’s coastline and passed between the islands of Qeshm and Larak before appearing near Muscat, Oman, on Friday. Most ships moving through the strait recently have been Iranian-flagged.
Iran has been directing vessels along a near-shore route while conducting informal inspections, with countries like Pakistan recently arranging passage for 20 of its ships. European nations, including France, are only now stepping up diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region. President Emmanuel Macron has stated that France will focus on stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz “once the bombardments have ceased.”
Meanwhile, Tehran is moving to formalize tolls on the strait, raising concerns among Gulf exporters and energy buyers. CMA CGM reports that 14 of its vessels remain stranded in the Gulf. As of early Friday, the Kribi was positioned off the coast of Muscat and was broadcasting “owner France” on its transponder, rather than listing a specific destination.