Two commercial vessels have transited the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz after Iran agreed to reopen the passage under a temporary ceasefire arrangement, according to maritime monitoring data.
Shipping tracker MarineTraffic reported that the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach had earlier completed its passage at 06:59 UTC after departing Bandar Abbas.
The development follows a two-week ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. Under the arrangement, Iran has allowed maritime traffic through the waterway, subject to coordination with its armed forces, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
However, analysts cautioned against interpreting the initial crossings as a full reopening. Kpler analyst Ana Subasic noted that while the transit of NJ Earth may signal early movement, it remains unclear whether it reflects a broader resumption of shipping or an isolated, pre-approved case.
Notably, the vessel maintained its transponder signal while navigating an Iranian-designated route near Larak Island, which has been commonly used in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, industry reports suggest that shipowners are preparing to move vessels stranded in the Gulf. According to Lloyd’s List, nearly 800 ships are currently awaiting clearance.
Previously, access to the strait had been heavily restricted by Iran in response to US and Israeli military actions since late February. Data from Kpler shows that crossings between March 1 and April 7 dropped by 95 percent compared to normal levels, underscoring the disruption to global energy flows.
