Two major COSCO Shipping container vessels, the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning, 30 March 2026. This successful passage followed a widely reported failed attempt just three days prior.
The two ultra-large container ships, each with a capacity of approximately 19,000 TEU, were the first major container carriers to confirm a crossing since the conflict effectively shut the waterway on 28 February 2026.
On 30 March, ship-tracking data from the MarineTraffic platform showed the vessels sailing in close formation out of the strait and into open waters.
On Friday, 27 March, both ships attempted to exit the Persian Gulf but abruptly made U-turns near Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands. They reversed course approximately 15 nautical miles southeast of Dubai after Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) forces reportedly stopped them.
The transit comes amid a “selective” passage regime enforced by Iran during its ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel.
During both attempts, the ships broadcast messages via their AIS ship-tracking systems explicitly stating they had Chinese owners and crews to facilitate safe passage.
Analysts from Kpler and Lloyd’s List Intelligence noted that the initial failure suggested even “friendly” nations faced uncertainty, making this successful second transit a critical indicator for the resumption of commercial shipping in the region.
Movement through the strait is currently being filtered through a more structured Iranian control model, with passage largely restricted to vessels from “friendly nations” or those not linked to the U.S. or Israel.
Note by Alessandro Bazzoni