By Anthony Marcus for Eurasia Business News, April 7, 2026. Article n°2081
A French-owned, Malta-flagged CMA CGM container ship did pass through the Strait of Hormuz on April 2, according to Reuters, BBC, WSJ, and Bloomberg coverage. It was reported as the first French-owned vessel to make that crossing since the conflict disrupted the waterway.
The ship was identified as the CMA CGM Kribi, owned by French shipping group CMA CGM and sailing under a Maltese flag. Reports said it traveled close to the Omani and Iranian coasts and completed the crossing safely.
Why it matters
This was seen as a sign that some Western-linked commercial shipping may still be able to transit Hormuz, even amid the conflict. Reuters noted it was the first French-owned vessel to get through the channel, suggesting the route may not be fully closed to all non-hostile shipping.
The passage came after weeks of disruption in a route that normally carries a major share of global oil and LNG flows. Maritime reports also suggested some ships were hugging the Omani coastline to reduce risk.
The current war involving Iran illustrates the integration of economic pressure with military escalation. Financial sanctions, payment system exclusion, and export controls by the U.S. and its allies now operate as components of a broader strategic toolkit. On the other side, Iran closed the Straits of Hormuz and has targeted the oil tankers trying to navigate through it, provoking an oil price crisis worldwide.
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© Copyright 2026 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 2081
Eurasia Business News 