US Secures Safe Passage for Ship Stuck Months in Hormuz; Dozens Remain

Military.com has learned that a U.S.-flagged cargo ship operated by Danish shipping giant Maersk, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, cleared the Strait of Hormuz on Monday under U.S. military protection.

The vessel, ALLIANCE FAIRFAX, transited the strategic waterway under a “comprehensive security plan” coordinated with the U.S. military, a Maersk spokesperson confirmed to Military.com. The vessel had been unable to depart the Persian Gulf for months.

Monday was the first day of a mission dubbed as “Project Freedom,” utilizing guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and roughly 15,000 service members as a means of allowing more ships to traverse the region. The strait has become one of Iran’s most formidable strengths in the conflict, with its closure forcing major pressure on U.S. officials due to resulting spikes in oil costs in addition to other essentials like fertilizer for farming.

Also on Monday morning, varied reports suggested that Iranian forces successfully hit a U.S. warship in the strait. CENTCOM nearly immediately refuted the claim, saying that all American vessels remained intact.

Military.com reached out for comment to CENTCOM and the Department of Defense. A Navy spokesperson deferred comment to CENTCOM.

Ship Moves Out for First Time Since February

Maersk confirmed the U.S.-flagged vessel ALLIANCE FAIRFAX safely cleared the Strait of Hormuz after being unable to depart the Persian Gulf since February, marking a rare case of a commercial ship delayed for months before receiving military protection.

“The operation to move the ALLIANCE FAIRFAX out of the Gulf followed coordination with the U.S. military and a comprehensive security plan,” a Maersk spokesperson told Military.com Monday, confirming the vessel moved through the strait with U.S. military support.

U.S. officials described a broader effort underway.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, told the press on Monday that U.S. forces opened a protected passage through the Strait of Hormuz and is supporting commercial vessels as part of a defensive operation to restore freedom of navigation.

“We’ve now opened a passage through the Strait of Hormuz to allow for the free flow of commerce to proceed,” Cooper said, adding that U.S. forces are supporting efforts to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping.

Cooper said U.S. forces had recently supported the transit of two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels through the strait, saying the ships were “safely headed on their journey” after an uneventful passage.

Tensions Remain High

Iranian forces launched cruise missiles, drones and small boats at vessels moving through the region, targeting both U.S. Navy ships and commercial shipping, he added.

“We have defeated each and every one of those threats,” he said, describing the mission as a layered defensive effort to protect maritime traffic.

The number of commercial vessels stuck in the region remains unclear, though Cooper said ships from 87 countries are present in the Arabian Gulf. U.S. forces have contacted dozens of shipping companies to encourage movement through the corridor, suggesting the ALLIANCE FAIRFAX is not an isolated case.

Some shipping traffic has already begun moving through the passage, Cooper said, as companies weigh the risks of transit against continued delays in the Gulf.

The U.S. has previously stepped in to protect commercial shipping in the Gulf during periods of heightened tension, including during the Tanker War and other confrontations involving Iran.

Earlier disruptions in the Strait have shown how quickly closures or threats can ripple through global energy markets and delay shipments worldwide.