COSCO once again crosses Hormuz through a corridor controlled by Iran.

Two ships from Chinese COSCO Shipping began crossing the Strait of Hormuz, in a partial resumption of navigation in one of the most sensitive routes in world maritime trade. The vessels, which were stranded in the region, began leaving the Persian Gulf in a context still marked by strong instability and strict control over circulation in that passage.

The crossing is being made via an alternative corridor, located close to the Iranian coast, between the islands of Larak and Qeshm, outside the usual navigation model in the area.

The use of this passage confirms that commercial traffic remains conditioned and dependent on authorization in a strait that remains under strong geopolitical pressure. In a first phase, the priority would have been to remove empty ships from the area, reducing exposure to risk in a crossing that remains far from normal. However, uncertainty remains regarding the passage conditions for vessels with cargo, at a time when maritime circulation continues to be subject to case-by-case assessment.

The operational situation is especially delicate because the use of this corridor implies prior contact with the Iranian authorities and compliance with specific requirements to guarantee passage. This reinforces the perception that Tehran is transforming territorial and military control over Hormuz into a direct instrument for conditioning maritime traffic.

Despite this sign of partial recovery, the situation in the strait remains unstable. Any interruption on a route with this strategic weight has an immediate impact on logistics costs, insurance premiums, shipowners’ confidence and the global energy market. In Hormuz, the question is no longer just whether the passage is open, but under what conditions you sail and at what price.

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