A container vessel operated by CMA CGM has become the first ship from a major liner company to leave the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran moved to tighten control over the key shipping route.
The 5,500-TEU CMA CGM Kribi crossed the passage on Thursday, heading out of the Gulf. Tracking data showed the Malta-flagged vessel broadcasting an “owner France” identification message during the transit.
It remains unclear what arrangements, if any, were made to secure the ship’s unimpeded passage. Reports have suggested that Iran has charged tolls to allow certain vessels to move safely through the strait.
CMA CGM has already stood apart from most major carriers in the region. The Marseille-based group was the only large liner operator to maintain scheduled services through the Red Sea after Houthi attacks in Yemen effectively shut down the Suez route in 2024. A United Nations report later alleged that the militia had extracted billions of dollars in exchange for suspending attacks on vessels.
The company currently operates its Medex, Mex and Bex2 services linking Asia and the Mediterranean through the Red Sea. While the Kribi’s transit may represent a modest sign of progress in restoring cargo movements and limiting the wider impact of the conflict on freight rates, CMA CGM nevertheless announced new peak season surcharges on Friday for Asia–North America shipments effective 1 May. The increases are set at $1,800 per 20-foot container, $2,000 per 40-foot container and $2,530 per 45-foot container.
At the same time, discussions continue over how shipping through the strait may be managed. Iran and Oman are reportedly in talks on traffic control arrangements, while the United Kingdom convened 35 countries on Thursday, excluding the United States, to discuss how to reopen the route for global oil and gas trade. Lloyd’s List first reported the Kribi’s transit.
