Major shipowners began sending vessels through the Strait of Hormuz this week after the United States and Iran signed an interim agreement to end their war. Lloyd’s List Intelligence said some ships had started crossing the important waterway for the first time in 110 days. The strait lies off Iran’s coast and is a key route for oil and natural gas ships.
Before the conflict, about one fifth of the world’s crude oil travelled through the Strait of Hormuz. Its closure caused a major energy crisis, as many ships were left waiting in the area. Lloyd’s List said tankers linked to companies including Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK had passed through the strait.
US Vice President JD Vance said the US Navy had lifted its blockade to allow some ships through Iranian ports. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said an Italian merchant ship owned by the Grimaldi Group was among the first to pass through after the agreement. Maritime data company Kpler said it had seen six confirmed ship crossings on Wednesday and 11 more on Thursday.
However, experts warned that the strait is not fully open yet. Phillip Belcher, from the tanker trade group Intertanko, said the main central route was still closed and around 80 mines needed to be cleared. Ships are using smaller northern and southern routes, but these cannot carry as much traffic as the main passage.
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