2 large Chinese container ships transit Strait of Hormuz in 2nd attempt amid Mideast conflict

Two large container vessels operated by the Chinese shipping giant Cosco transited through the Strait of Hormuz after aborting an initial crossing attempt Friday amid the Middle East conflict, according to data from MarineTraffic released Monday.

The voyages of two of its ultra-large container vessels, the CSCL Indian Ocean and the CSCL Arctic Ocean, signal "a potential shift in conditions for commercial shipping," the marine monitor said on the US social media company X’s platform.

The CSCL Indian Ocean crossed the strait at 0847GMT and the CSCL Arctic Ocean at 0914GMT.

Both vessels are listed as China-owned and are currently headed to Port Klang, Malaysia.

MarineTraffic noted the successful transit as the "first confirmed crossing by a major container carrier since the start of the conflict."

The transit could also "be a diplomatic breakthrough between Beijing and Tehran over passage rights through the contested chokepoint," according to Lloyd's List news on X.

Cosco is one of the world's most dominant maritime entities, holding the top spot globally for total fleet size by deadweight tonnage.

The company suspended cargo services to and from several Gulf countries earlier this month.

On Wednesday, Cosco said that new bookings were open for container transport from Far East countries to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global trade and energy, has been heavily disrupted since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran late last month, prompting Tehran to retaliate with strikes on US-linked bases in at least six Gulf nations.

Disruptions to tanker traffic in the strait have already caused global oil supply interruptions and pushed prices higher.