U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, April 11, as two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted operations. U.S. Central Command Photo<\/p>\n
Maersk Ship Exits Hormuz Under U.S. Protection<\/p>\n
Maersk has confirmed that one of the vessels involved in Monday\u2019s U.S.-escorted transits of the<\/p>\n
was its U.S.-flagged roll-on\/roll-off ship<\/p>\n
, marking one of the clearest tests so far of Washington\u2019s effort to reopen the waterway.<\/p>\n
In a statement, A.P. Moller\u2013Maersk said the vessel\u2014operated by Farrell Lines, a subsidiary of Maersk Line Limited\u2014successfully exited the Persian Gulf on May 4 \u201cunder U.S. military protection,\u201d completing the transit \u201cwithout incident\u201d with all crew safe.<\/p>\n
The ship had been effectively stranded in the Gulf since the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran in late February, when shipping through the strait largely collapsed amid missile, drone, and mine threats.<\/p>\n
\u201cMLL was contacted by the U.S. military and offered the opportunity for the vessel to exit the Gulf under U.S. military protection,\u201d Maersk said in a statement to gCaptain. \u201cFollowing the development and coordination of a comprehensive security plan with the U.S. military, MLL\u2019s shore side and shipboard leadership approved the transit. The vessel subsequently exited the Persian Gulf accompanied by U.S. military assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
The confirmation aligns with earlier U.S. Central Command claims that<\/p>\n
two American-flagged merchant vessels<\/p>\n
had transited the strait as part of the Trump administration\u2019s \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201d effort to guide stranded ships out of the Gulf. The identification of the second vessel is not yet known.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaersk extends its gratitude to the U.S. military for its professionalism and effective coordination in making this operation possible, and the company looks forward to the ALLIANCE FAIRFAX returning to its normal commercial service,\u201d Maersk added.<\/p>\n
The ALLIANCE FAIRFAX was among five U.S.-flagged ships known to be in the Persian Gulf when the conflict began. All of the vessels are enrolled in either the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) or the Tanker Security Program (TSP)\u2013two critical U.S. government-backed initiatives designed to ensure a ready fleet of commercially operated vessels available for military logistics in times of crisis.<\/p>\n
Project Freedom Launched<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump announced the initiative, dubbed Project Freedom, on Sunday, framing it as a humanitarian mission to assist \u201cneutral and innocent\u201d ships trapped in the strait amid months of escalating conflict.<\/p>\n
\u201cCountries from all over the world\u2026 have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships,\u201d Trump said, adding that many vessels are running low on food and essential supplies.<\/p>\n
Despite the renewed pressure to reopen the Strait, shipping groups warning that the broader risk picture<\/p>\n
remains largely unchanged<\/p>\n
Jakob Larsen, Chief Safety & Security Officer at BIMCO, said there are still no formal details or guidance available to the wider shipping industry regarding \u201cProject Freedom,\u201d raising questions about how the operation would function beyond isolated escorted transits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout consent from Iran to let commercial ships transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz, it is currently not clear whether the Iranian threat to ships can be degraded or suppressed,\u201d Larsen said.<\/p>\n
He added that Iran\u2019s warnings against uncoordinated transits raise the risk of renewed hostilities if vessels attempt to pass under the U.S.-led initiative. \u201cIn view of the Iranian threats against any ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with Iran\u2019s military, there is a risk of hostilities breaking out again if \u2018Project Freedom\u2019 goes ahead,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Larsen also questioned whether the effort can be sustained, suggesting it may ultimately amount to a limited operation aimed at extracting a small number of stranded vessels rather than restoring normal traffic flows. \u201cThe overall security situation for the shipping industry is currently unchanged, and our advice is for all shipowners to continue carrying out thorough risk assessments,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
HMM Namu Attack Raises Caution<\/p>\n
The latest developments come as a South Korean-operated cargo ship reported an explosion and fire while transiting the Strait, underscoring the continued risks facing commercial shipping.<\/p>\n
South Korea\u2019s government said it was investigating whether the incident, reported aboard the Panama-flagged vessel<\/p>\n
, was the result of an attack. No casualties were reported, and the cause of the engine room fire remains unconfirmed.<\/p>\n
The incident is likely to reinforce industry concerns that conditions in the Strait remain too dangerous for a broader return of commercial traffic, despite the successful U.S. transits.<\/p>\n