Omani, French and Japanese Vessels Transit Strait of Hormuz

A French container ship and a Japanese-owned liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known transits by vessels linked to Western Europe and Japan since the waterway was effectively closed following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.

The Malta-flagged vessel Kribi, owned by the French shipping company CMA CGM, crossed the strait on April 2, 2026, and exited on April 3, 2026, according to shipping data and reports from Al Jazeera and the Straits Times. This transit represents the first instance of a major Western European firm’s vessel navigating the contested waterway since the conflict began more than a month ago.

Simultaneously, Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) confirmed on April 3, 2026, that an LNG tanker it part-owns also successfully crossed the strait. MOL stated that the safety of the vessel and all crew members had been confirmed and that the company continues to prioritize the safety of its cargo and crew as operations proceed.

Other vessels also made the passage, including three tankers operated by Oman Shipping Management that exited the Gulf on April 2, 2026.

Transit Protocols and Operational Details

Since the onset of the war, normal transport activity in the Strait of Hormuz has practically halted. However, a new system has emerged in which Iran pre-approves the transit of non-hostile vessels along routes that hug the Iranian coast. This system includes the charging of fees, a development that has caused alarm among Gulf Arab states that depend heavily on the waterway.

Data from LSEG and MarineTraffic indicate that the Kribi took specific steps to signal its identity to Iranian authorities. On April 2, 2026, the vessel changed its destination to Owner France before entering Iranian territorial waters. Several vessels, including the French and Omani ships, appeared to switch off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders during the crossing, causing their signals to disappear from tracking data.

Maritime news service Lloyd’s List reported that several ships making the journey on April 2, 2026, hugged the coast of Oman unusually close, on the opposite side of the waterway from Iran.

Diplomatic and Political Context

The resumption of some traffic follows diplomatic calls for a ceasefire from France and Japan. French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized the necessity of reopening the strait once bombing operations conclude.

In the United States, President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with allies for not providing assistance in reopening the waterway. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed the U.S. Could reopen the strait, stating:

With a little more time, One can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A ‘GUSHER’ FOR THE WORLD???

Donald Trump

The strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz remains critical to global energy security, as approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquid natural gas is transported through the waterway from Gulf countries.

While the transits of the French and Japanese vessels may indicate a shift in the accessibility of the strait, it remains unclear if these movements are the result of formal government diplomacy or ad hoc negotiations conducted by the shipping companies and their intermediaries.