First Japanese and French ships cross Strait of Hormuz since war

A French-owned ship and a Japanese-owned vessel recently became some of the first to pass through the troubled Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime tracking data released on Friday. The French vessel is notable as it is the first Western ship allowed to navigate the Strait since the conflict in Iran began, involving the United States and Israel. This strait is crucial for transporting oil and liquefied natural gas, but Iran has largely blocked it since the war started. On Thursday, both ships successfully made their journey, as reported by the ship tracking service Marine Traffic. Additionally, three tankers, including one partly owned by a Japanese firm, also crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday using a southern route. They stayed close to the coastline of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, marking the first such passage in nearly three weeks, according to Lloyd’s List. As they crossed, all three ships identified themselves as “OMANI SHIP” via their transponders. The Sohar LNG, which was empty during its crossing, is co-owned by the Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K., making it the first Japanese vessel to leave the Gulf since the war began, according to a statement from the company.