Two vessels have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran agreed to reopen the key shipping route under a recent ceasefire arrangement, maritime monitoring service MarineTraffic said on Wednesday.
According to the monitor, the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach made the transit earlier at 06:59 UTC, shortly after departing Bandar Abbas at 05:28 UTC.
The development follows an overnight agreement between the United States and Iran on a two-week ceasefire, reached between Tuesday and Wednesday.
As part of the arrangement, Iran said that movement through the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed through coordination with its armed forces.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that passage through the waterway “will be possible via coordination with Iran’s armed forces”.
Maritime analysts, however, urged caution in interpreting the first crossings.
Ana Subasic, an analyst at Kpler, which owns MarineTraffic, said the transit by NJ Earth may indicate the beginning of resumed traffic, but added that it is too early to confirm whether this marks a wider reopening under the ceasefire or simply an exception approved earlier.
The Greek-owned vessel reportedly kept its transponder active while crossing through an Iran-approved route near Larak Island, a passage used by most ships over the last three weeks.
The ship’s final destination could not be immediately confirmed.
Subasic said more crossings are expected in the coming days, but stressed that from a risk and compliance perspective, the development should still be viewed carefully.
Meanwhile, shipping publication Lloyd’s List reported that several shipowners and charterers are preparing to move vessels that have remained stranded in the Gulf.
The report estimates that nearly 800 ships are currently stuck in the Gulf.
Access to the strategic waterway had been heavily restricted by Iran in response to US and Israeli attacks since February 28.
According to Kpler data, only 307 commodity carrier crossings were recorded between March 1 and April 7, representing a 95 per cent drop compared to normal peacetime traffic.
Under normal conditions, nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making it one of the world’s most critical maritime routes.