PARIS: Two ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran agreed to reopen the waterway as part of a ceasefire deal, maritime monitor Marine Traffic said. "The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the Strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited earlier at 06:59 UTC, shortly after departing Bandar Abbas at 05:28 UTC", MarineTraffic said on X. "NJ Earth's transit may be an early sign of movement, but it is still too soon to tell whether this reflects a broader ceasefire-driven reopening or a previously approved exception", Ana Subasic, analyst at MarineTraffic owner Kpler said.
The Greek-owned ship kept its transponder signal on as it transited the strait via an Iranian-approved route near Larak Island, used by most vessels crossing the waterway for the past three weeks. "While we expect more crossings in the coming days, from a risk and compliance perspective this first transit should be read cautiously," Subasic added.
Some shipowners and characters are preparing to move their vessels stuck in the Gulf, shipping journal Lloyd's List reported on Wednesday morning. It estimates around 800 ships are currently stuck in the Gulf. Access to the strait was severely restricted by Iran in retaliation against US and Israeli attacks since February 28. — AFP
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