COSCO Ships Successfully Transit Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions

Two container vessels operated by Chinese shipping giant COSCO Shipping have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to vessel tracking data, signaling a cautious resumption of maritime movement in the region.

The ships—CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean—transited the strait on Monday, just 27 minutes apart. Both vessels exited the Gulf and navigated near Larak Island, continuing their journey toward Port Klang.

In recent weeks, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had dropped sharply after Iran effectively restricted access following U.S. and Israeli strikes. The waterway, a critical global oil transit route, had seen near-total disruption.

Iran has since stated that the strait remains open to vessels from “friendly countries,” and its diplomatic ties with China remain stable. Reflecting this shift, COSCO announced on Wednesday that it has resumed booking shipments from Asia to certain Gulf destinations.

However, the Shanghai-based company also noted that its vessels will avoid using the Strait of Hormuz route for now, underscoring ongoing security concerns. COSCO had previously suspended bookings in early March when access to the strait became highly restricted due to the conflict.

The successful passage of these ships may indicate a gradual easing of maritime risks, though shipping companies remain cautious as geopolitical tensions continue in the region.