Mitsui OSK weighs Hormuz transit plans after US–Iran ceasefire

Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said it will carefully assess the terms and implementation of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran before allowing its vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Company president Jotaro Tamura told Bloomberg that operational clarity on the ground — or at sea — remains a key concern. “How it is implemented in the water, that is something we really need to understand,” he said.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which operates a fleet of around 900 vessels and ranks among the world’s largest shipping companies, is taking a cautious approach following weeks of disruption in the strategically vital waterway.

Iran had previously blocked the Strait of Hormuz in response to a military operation launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. The suspension of maritime traffic through the corridor triggered a fuel crisis across much of Asia, including Japan, which sources roughly 90% of its imported oil from Gulf countries.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that two fully loaded Chinese oil tankers — operated by COSCO Shipping and Hainan Herong Shipping — have approached the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels could become the first to attempt passage following a potential reopening of the route.

By Vugar Khalilov