French-Owned Container Ship Becomes First Major European Vessel to Transit Strait of Hormuz Since War Began

Apr 3, 2026

A Malta-flagged CMA CGM container ship became the first major Western European vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026, more than a month after the US-Israeli military offensive against Iran began on February 27 and effectively closed the strategic waterway. The transit, confirmed by shipping analytics firm Kpler, suggests Iran may be selectively allowing passage to countries not supporting the US-Israeli campaign, having previously stated non-hostile vessels can use the strait. Traffic through the waterway remains down 95% compared to pre-conflict levels, with about 200 vessels stranded and only five to six ships per day passing through, roughly a third with Iranian links. The dramatic slowdown has caused skyrocketing global oil prices and inflation fears, as approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquid natural gas normally transits the strait from Gulf countries.

First Western European vessel transits Strait of Hormuz since conflict began

▪Shipping analysts Kpler confirmed that the CMA CGM ship was the first major Western European vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began
▪The CMA CGM container ship was the first ship owned by a major Western European firm to go through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli war with Iran began
▪The French-owned container ship passed close to the coast of Oman on the opposite side of the waterway to Iran
▪A Malta-flagged container ship owned by French company CMA CGM passed through the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026

Ongoing blockade and stranded vessels in the waterway

▪The US-Israeli military offensive against Iran began on 28 February 2026
▪Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was suspended when the conflict began in late February 2026
▪About 100 vessels have been able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz according to data analysed by BBC Verify in late March 2026
▪About 200 vessels were stranded in the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz according to Lloyd's List
▪Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is down about 95% compared to before the conflict
▪About five to six ships per day have been passing through the Strait of Hormuz according to BBC Verify data from late March 2026

Global economic impact of reduced shipping traffic

▪The Strait of Hormuz traffic slowdown has led to fears of higher inflation around the world
▪Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that with a little more time, the US can easily open the Hormuz Strait, take the oil, and make a fortune

Perspective of United States

▪Donald Trump asserted that the United States has the military capability to forcibly reopen the Strait of Hormuz
▪Donald Trump suggested the United States could seize oil from the Gulf region while reopening the Strait of Hormuz to make a fortune