According to foreign media reports, Maersk has confirmed that one of its vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on May 4 under U.S. escort.
Maersk stated in a statement that the vessel is the U.S.-flagged ro-ro ship “Alliance Fairfax,” operated by Farrell Lines, a subsidiary of Maersk’s U.S. unit Maersk Line Limited (MLL). The vessel has exited the Persian Gulf, and all crew members are safe.
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It is understood that the “Alliance Fairfax” was built in 2005, measures 199 meters in length, 32 meters in width, and has a gross tonnage of 59,705.
According to Maersk’s statement, the vessel had been stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict in late February. The U.S. military later contacted MLL and offered the opportunity for the vessel to exit the Persian Gulf under U.S. military protection. After formulating a detailed plan with the U.S. military, MLL approved the transit.
File photo of the “Alliance Fairfax”
It is reported that the “Alliance Fairfax” and another U.S.-flagged commercial vessel were escorted by the U.S. military through the Strait of Hormuz as part of the “Freedom Plan” launched by the U.S. government on May 4, a plan aimed at “guiding” stranded vessels out of the Persian Gulf.
However, less than 48 hours after the plan was implemented, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on the evening of May 5 (Eastern Time) stating: “The ‘Freedom Plan’ will be suspended for a short period.”
Trump said that “at the request of Pakistan and other countries,” and in light of the “great military success” of U.S. actions against Iran, as well as “significant progress” by the U.S. side “toward reaching a comprehensive and final agreement with Iranian representatives,” “we” have reached a consensus: the maritime blockade measures against Iranian ports will “continue to be fully and effectively implemented,” while the “Freedom Plan” will be suspended for a short period “to observe whether the above agreement can be finalized and signed.”
However, the shipping industry is not buying into this plan. Major shipping companies have stated that they may wait until the U.S.-Iran hostilities clearly end before attempting to re-enter the Strait of Hormuz.
Some industry analysts also commented that the U.S. move aims to establish a limited transit mechanism rather than restore normal shipping order in the Strait of Hormuz. The passage of two U.S.-flagged commercial vessels is more like a demonstration transit.
