Dozens of Container Ships Remain Trapped in Gulf After Hormuz Disruption

(MENAFN) Forty-two container ships operated by major global shipping companies are still unable to leave the Gulf after two months of restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data cited by MarineTraffic and Kpler.

In an analysis published on Monday, MarineTraffic reported that the disruption began while 53 vessels belonging to the world’s largest container carriers were already inside the Gulf, with the majority still unable to exit through the strategic maritime corridor.

The platform said that most of the affected ships remain stranded, while only a small number have managed to pass through the strait since the restrictions began.

Only nine vessels have successfully exited the Gulf, and two required a second attempt before completing the passage. Both of those ships were operated by China’s COSCO, making it the only carrier to achieve a successful exit after a retry.

MarineTraffic data also showed significant variation among shipping companies in terms of vessels still trapped. French shipping group CMA CGM reportedly had 15 ships in the Gulf, 13 of which remain unable to leave, representing an 87% rate of entrapment.

MSC had 14 vessels in the region, with eight still inside. The report also noted that two MSC vessels were seized by Iranian authorities, while another was damaged by debris during the period.

Maersk had six vessels in the Gulf, with five still unable to exit. COSCO had five vessels in total, including the two that eventually managed to leave after a second attempt.

Other major carriers, including Wan Hai, Evergreen, Yang Ming, Ocean Network Express, and HMM, reportedly recorded no successful departures during the period, according to the same data analysis.

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