Malta-Flagged Container Ship Operated by CMA CGM Passes Through Strait of Hormuz

The Malta-flagged container vessel CMA CGM Kribi, operated by the French shipping company CMA CGM, appears to be the first France-linked ship to transit the Strait of Hormuz since Iran effectively closed the strategic waterway, according to data from MarineTraffic.

The vessel departed waters near Dubai on Thursday and arrived off the coast of Muscat, Oman, on Friday, signaling a cautious resumption of maritime passage in the region.

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged by approximately 90% since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran. According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, only around 150 vessels, including oil tankers and container ships, have navigated the strait since March 1, with the majority linked to Iran or countries such as China, India, and Pakistan.

The transit of CMA CGM Kribi underscores both the challenges and gradual adaptations in global shipping amid heightened tensions in one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for oil and trade.