A Greek-owned bulk carrier and a Liberia-flagged vessel have become the first ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. According to maritime tracking data, the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the strait at 10:44 am CET. Earlier, the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited at 8:59 am CET after departing Iran’s Bandar Abbas port.
The movements mark the first confirmed ship transits since the ceasefire came into effect, under a two-week truce between the two countries.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ships would be allowed safe passage through the strait during this period, subject to coordination with Iranian authorities and certain technical conditions.
Despite the development, uncertainty remains over the full terms of the agreement, including transit arrangements and operational timelines.
Shipping activity in the region continues to face challenges. More than 800 vessels are reported to be stranded in the Gulf, with operators preparing to resume movement cautiously.
Industry experts said that although the ceasefire is a positive step, the region will continue to be treated as high risk, and normal shipping operations are unlikely to resume immediately.
There are also indications that Iran and Oman may introduce transit charges for vessels, with reports suggesting a fee of around $2 million per ship, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global energy route, carrying around 20 million barrels of oil per day, along with a significant share of global liquefied natural gas supplies.
