Two COSCO Vessels Finally Transit Strait of Hormuz

Two large COSCO container ships, CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, were granted permission to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on March 30 after being held in the region for over a month amid rising tensions.

During this period, both vessels had made multiple attempts to transit the strait but were repeatedly refused entry and forced to turn back.

Each ship has a capacity exceeding 19,000 TEU and is currently en route to Port Klang in Malaysia. They operate as part of COSCO’s MEX service, which links key Gulf ports including Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates.

Delays and Regional Impact

The vessels most recently attempted to cross on March 27 but were denied passage and had to reverse course. They are among roughly 130 ships that have been unable to leave the region since late February due to the situation.

Conditional Access to the Strait

Iran has since announced a partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, allowing transit for countries not involved in actions against it. Ships must coordinate closely with Iranian authorities and complete security checks before being permitted to pass.

Signs of Easing Trade Conditions

Following this announcement, COSCO has resumed booking services between Asia and Gulf countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq. This move suggests a gradual return to normal operations and an easing of shipping restrictions in the region.