Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd confirm that multiple container ships have evacuated the Strait of Hormuz

With the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz gradually loosening, major liner companies such as Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd have recently confirmed that container ships previously stranded in the waters of the Persian Gulf have passed through the strait and left safely.

Maersk confirmed that its container ship "Maersk Baltimore" and another time charter vessel have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz and sailed into safe waters. Of the 47,000 Gulf-bound containers affected in the early stages of the conflict, approximately 44,000 have been delivered and the remainder are being processed through alternative solutions. Maersk reiterated that crew safety is always the highest priority and will not hastily resume regular ocean trunk navigation through the Strait of Hormuz until traffic rules are clear and safety measures are implemented.

CMA CGM confirmed that its container ship "CMA CGM Galapagos" sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz on June 28 and is currently anchored off the coast of Muscat, Oman. Although some ships have been withdrawn, about 10 CMA CGM ships are still stranded in the waters of the Persian Gulf after the conflict broke out. Rudolf Saade, CEO of CMA CGM, recently stated that it is unrealistic to believe that the Strait of Hormuz can return to pre-war normality. Even if a peace agreement is reached in the short term, the possibility of another crisis in the future cannot be ruled out. Liner companies should not become "prisoners" in the Strait of Hormuz. CMA CGM will continue to provide customers with alternative transportation solutions in response to the ongoing geopolitical instability.

Hapag-Lloyd confirmed that many container ships previously stranded due to the temporary closure of the Persian Gulf have been safely evacuated. Company spokesperson Hanja Maria Richter said on June 28 that frequent conflicts and inconsistent regulatory standards in the strait will become the "new normal" in the Persian Gulf region in the future. Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen pointed out that even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, it will still take at least three months for the shipping network to fully return to normal conditions. The company will not risk ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz until all parties provide clearer security guarantees.

In addition, the 16,000TEU-class container ship "HMM DAON" owned by South Korea's HMM also appears on the recent departure list. The ship has been stranded in the Persian Gulf for nearly four months.

Industry analysts believe that although limited traffic has resumed in the Strait of Hormuz, major liner companies have not yet regarded it as a signal for normalized resumption of sailings. Shipping companies are gradually shifting their operational focus towards alternative shipping options to reduce reliance on the dangerous waterway.