Two cargo ships tied to Greek owners were the first to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the first hours after the declaration of a two-week ceasefire in the United States' war with Iran.
According to data from Kpler, a data and market analysis company that owns the MarineTraffic platform, the Daytona Beach, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, was the first vessel to pass through the strait at 9:59 a.m. Greek time after departing the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. It was followed a few hours later, at 11:44 a.m., by the cargo ship NJ Earth, which flies the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
By midday on Wednesday, marine navigation sites showed both ships were traveling eastward after passing through the strait.
Analysts remain cautious
Shipowners and international analysts remain cautious about developments in commercial traffic through this sea passage, which before the conflict transported about 20% of the world's oil.
According to MarineTraffic, hundreds of ships remain blocked at the two entrances to the Strait of Hormuz, including 426 oil tankers, 34 LPG carriers and 19 LNG carriers. In the wider Persian Gulf region, it is estimated that up to 800 commercial vessels are anchored.
“The passage of NJ Earth could be an early sign of movement, but it is still too early to say whether this reflects a broader reopening prompted by the ceasefire or a previously approved exemption,” said Ana Subasic, trade risk analyst at Kpler.
“While we expect more crossings in the coming days, this first transit should be interpreted with caution. It suggests that crossing may be possible, but security and legal risks need to be closely monitored. Traffic is unlikely to resume at full scale immediately,” she added.
Over the past six weeks, traffic at one of the world's busiest energy hubs has fallen sharply, compared with about 135 ships passing through daily in peacetime. According to the International Maritime Organization, as of late March, about 20,000 sailors were stranded in the Persian Gulf, facing the threat of missiles and drones, supply shortages and mounting psychological pressure.
No one can predict what will happen in the coming days, and ship owners say insurance and security companies are taking a wait-and-see approach. ekathimerini.
Despite the de facto blockade of Hormuz in recent weeks, the passages have continued. In addition to Iranian ships, tankers and cargo ships linked to Chinese interests have also passed through, as well as ships from Tehran's so-called "shadow fleet," whose owners are under Western sanctions. According to Kpler, in the second half of March, Iran exported more than 16 million barrels of oil from the Persian Gulf, with China remaining the largest buyer.
