French, Japanese ships cross Strait of Hormuz in first since war
Why it matters: Before the war, about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
- French-owned Kribi, a Maltese-flagged container ship, crossed the Strait of Hormuz via an Iranian-approved route, broadcasting "owner France" on its transponder.
- Japanese co-owned Sohar LNG, an empty tanker, was among three vessels that took an alternative southern route close to Oman's Musandam Peninsula, marking the first Japanese vessel to exit the Gulf since the war.
- Lloyd's List, a leading shipping journal, dubbed the Iranian-approved route the "Tehran Toll Booth" and noted the southern route was the first in nearly three weeks.
- All three ships using the southern route signaled they were an "OMANI SHIP" on their transponders during passage.
In a significant development since the war began, a French-owned container ship and a Japanese co-owned tanker successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway previously blocked by Iran. The French vessel used an Iranian-approved route, while the Japanese-affiliated tanker, along with two others, took an alternative southern route hugging Oman's coast.
