A breakthrough in the Persian Gulf? A ship linked to a western country crossed the Strait of Hormuz
CMA CGM's ship CMA CGM Kribi left waters off Dubai and headed toward Iran before passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported.
According to ship tracking data, the vessel was moving close to the Iranian coast, using a route between the islands of Qeshm and Larak, and broadcast its position at all times. It then appeared in the Oman region, confirming the completion of the crossing.
This is most likely the first time since the outbreak of the conflict that a ship linked to Western Europe has traveled this route.
Strait of Hormuz under pressure from Iran
Since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, Tehran has significantly tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz – one of the most important points on the map of global energy trade.
Under normal conditions, approximately 20% of global oil and LNG trade flows through this chokepoint. Currently, traffic has been limited to a minimum.
Iran allows only selected vessels from countries considered friendly, directing them along specially designated routes, while threatening to attack ships linked to the US and Israel.
Western countries, including France, are trying to diplomatically ease tensions and restore freedom of navigation.
So far, however, as Bloomberg's sources indicate, they have not brought a breakthrough. The passage of a French ship may therefore be more of an exception than a sign of a lasting improvement in the situation.
Who is the owner of the ship?
As Bloomberg writes, the unit's operator, CMA CGM, is the third largest container shipowner in the world, controlled by the Saadé family. The company was founded in 1978 in Marseille and today is one of the global industry leaders.
The CMA CGM Kribi ship can carry approximately 5,000. containers (TEU) and – as the data indicates – it was fully loaded during the crossing.
The ship's passage through Hormuz may be a signal of testing the possibility of returning to normal maritime traffic, writes Bloomberg.
At the same time, the situation remains very unstable – and each subsequent cruise will be burdened with high risk.
For markets, this means continuing uncertainty around energy supplies and global supply chains, Bloomberg emphasizes.
