Maersk reported that one of its commercial vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. military protection, as the U.S. Navy works to implement President Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom” to release ships affected by Iran’s closure of the strait, amid a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran that appears close to unraveling.
Maersk, a major Danish shipping company, stated that one of its commercial vessels successfully transited the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz under U.S. military protection.
In a statement, the company said that the Alliance Fairfax—a U.S.-flagged vessel operated by Farrell Lines, a subsidiary of Maersk Line Limited (MLL)—completed its voyage without incident on Monday, and all crew members remained safe and secure.
Maersk noted that the vessel had been stranded at sea since February 28, following the outbreak of hostilities between the U.S. and Israel against Iran.
This development comes as the U.S. Navy seeks to execute President Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom” initiative—a plan designed to liberate vessels that have become stranded due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
Typically, approximately 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz; however, shipping traffic has ground to a near halt since the conflict began.
U.S. Central Command announced on social media on Monday that two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, adding that U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the region.
A fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appeared on the verge of collapse on Tuesday, as Iranian drones and missiles struck the United Arab Emirates, while Washington claimed to have sunk Iranian vessels within the Strait.
Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Trump issued a warning that if Iran were to target U.S. vessels safeguarding commercial traffic through the Strait, it would be “blown off the face of the earth.” In a social media post, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that recent events in the Strait have made it “clear that there is no military solution to the political crisis.”
He further added: “Thanks to Pakistan’s constructive efforts, dialogue is moving forward; therefore, the U.S. must be vigilant to ensure that ill-wishers do not drag it back into the quagmire. The UAE should do the same. ‘Project Freedom’ is, in reality, ‘Project Deadlock’.”
Maersk, widely regarded as a barometer of global trade, is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings on Thursday.
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