Two vessels have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s agreement to reopen the waterway as part of a ceasefire arrangement.
According to maritime monitoring platform MarineTraffic, the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth transited the strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach made an earlier crossing at 06:59 UTC after departing Bandar Abbas.
The crossings come after a temporary ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, which allows controlled passage through the strategic route. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that transit would be permitted through coordination with Iran’s armed forces during the two-week truce.
Despite the development, analysts remain cautious. Ana Subasic, an analyst at Kpler, noted that while the NJ Earth crossing could signal a gradual reopening, it may also represent a previously approved exception rather than a full restoration of traffic.
The vessel reportedly maintained its transponder signal and used an Iranian-approved route near Larak Island, a corridor commonly used by ships in recent weeks. Its final destination, however, remains unconfirmed.
Industry observers expect more ships to begin moving in the coming days, though concerns about safety and compliance remain. Shipping reports indicate that up to 800 vessels are currently stranded in the Gulf, awaiting safe passage.
Access to the strait had been heavily restricted by Iran in response to US and Israeli military actions, causing a dramatic decline in maritime traffic. Between March 1 and April 7, only 307 commodity carrier crossings were recorded, a 95 percent drop compared to normal levels.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, with roughly a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it during normal operations.
What you should know
Two ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz after Iran agreed to reopen it under a ceasefire deal with the United States.
While this signals a possible easing of tensions, experts warn it is too early to confirm a full return to normal shipping operations.
