A U.S.-flagged ship, operated by a subsidiary of Maersk, left under the guidance of the American military as part of President Trump’s efforts to encourage ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Grimaldi: The Iranian blockade costs our company one hundred thousand euros a day

Mr Dominguez described the attacks and seizures of ships as "unacceptable". Still, he added that he could not understand why companies would take risks and endanger the lives of seafarers.

The fragile four-week-old ceasefire between Iran and the US is being tested by new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow passageway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the location of Project Freedom since yesterday, remains at the heart of the dispute and the scene of the clashes. Meanwhile, on Sunday, President Trump announced that the United States would escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital oil and gas trading route — adding that any interference would be met with a "forceful response".

Project Freedom 

Initially presented by US President Trump as information and technical support for ships wishing to pass through the Strait, Project Freedom has now evolved into a military operation. Although US Central Command later clarified that this support was part of a 'purely defensive' operation, it nevertheless included military support in the form of guided missile destroyers, 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 troops.

Both Kepler and S&P Global rated Hormuz on Tuesday.

Kpler, a global maritime data company, reported that no ships had transited the strait on Tuesday. Before the war, approximately 130 vessels passed through the strait daily. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 137 ships passed through the strait between 13 April — when the United States began its blockade — and 1 May. Some may have slipped out undetected by switching off their transponders.

The first day of operations 

Whereas, according to the U.S. military's assessment, the first day of operations involved two U.S. naval vessels entering the Strait and two merchant vessels sailing under the Stars and Stripes, passing. Among these was the Alliance Fairfax, (IMO 9303546, MMSI 366771000 - sailing under the flag of the United States (USA).), a PCTC (pure car and truck carrier) and part of the Farrell Lines fleet. Farrell Lines is a U.S. Ro-Ro company that has been controlled by Maersk Line Limited since 2007 and has been "serving combatants since 1925", according to its website.

The 2024 updated list of vessels 

The ship and its sister ships, the Alliance Norfolk (IMO 9332547, MMSI 338619000 - sailing under the flag of the USA) and the Alliance St. Louis, (IMO 9285500, MMSI 367093000 - sailing under the flag of the (USA), are on the 2024 updated list of vessels that make up the Maritime Security Programme fleet. This is a U.S. government programme managed by the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation, which aims to ensure the availability of a merchant fleet capable of supporting maritime logistics in the event of war or national emergency.

Contradictory statements

Maersk told Reuters that the Alliance Fairfax left the area under a U.S. military escort. It is not known which vessel left Hormuz. Iran has denied that the two vessels passed through the strait, and has also denied that the United States destroyed six of its vessels to allow the vessels to pass. However, an Iranian commander claimed that U.S. forces struck two small commercial vessels, killing five civilians. Yesterday, Iranian forces also claimed to have fired missiles at a U.S. warship approaching the Strait, forcing it to turn back.

Yesterday's confusing and uncertain events

Yesterday's confusing and uncertain events also included an explosion on the general cargo ship Hmm Namu, which, according to the South Korean government, originated from an unknown source. There were also two other incidents reported by the UKMTO involving two vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the Emirati company ADNOC reported that one of its empty tankers was hit by Iranian drones.

In the coming hours,

In the coming hours, it is possible that other vessels will attempt to transit under US 'protection'. During a press conference yesterday afternoon, US Central Command Commander Brad Cooper stated that, over the previous 12 hours, he had contacted 'dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic through the Strait, in line with the President's intent', a proposal which was welcomed 'with enthusiasm'. 'We are already starting to see activity,' he added.

 The current phase is one of "patience and waiting".

Yesterday, Emanuele Grimaldi, the owner of the Grande Torino, (IMO 9782675, MMSI 247379500 -sailing under the flag of Italy. ), which remains anchored off Abu Dhabi, and president of the ICS (International Chamber of Shipping), gave an interview to Repubblica on the subject of transits through the Strait of Hormuz, whether escorted or not. Although he considers the Iranian blockade to be illegal (it costs the company "one hundred thousand euros a day"), the president of the shipowners' association described the attempt to pass through the Strait, even under the US umbrella, as "reckless action which endangers human life", and urged the application of international law, describing the current phase as one of "patience and waiting"

Related : US destroyer and a helicopter intercept two Iranian oil tankers

The message of the IMO Secretary-General

It was a message similar to that delivered by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez the day after a large number of ships, including four MSC vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz. On that occasion, Mr Dominguez described the attacks and seizures of ships as "unacceptable". Still, he added that he could not understand why companies would take risks and endanger the lives of seafarers. He indicated that the only way out of the Hormuz trap was "de-escalation, concrete action, and the restoration of freedom of navigation".

Source  : Agencies + Italian media . Image : Ships in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.Credit...Fatima Shbair/Associated Press

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