A CMA CGM containership appears to be heading eastbound exiting the Middle East Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, via a Tehran-approved detour, according to its AIS transmission.

The 5,466 teu CMA CGM Kribi (IMO: 9694543) entered the MEG on a scheduled voyage from West Africa and South Africa on February 26.

But it appears to have been idle since March 2 after having made calls at the United Arab Emirates ports of Jebel Ali (Dubai) and Hassyan, following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.   

The 2014-built vessel appears to be bound for the Republic of Congo port of Pointe Noire, West Africa, on CMA CGM’s “Midas 1” service which connects India, MEG and Africa.

CMA CGM Kribi also appears to be departing via the Larak Island detour.

Most traceable transits through the Strait of Hormuz since March 13 have been taken via the “Tehran-approved” corridor, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-dictated detour that goes around Iran’s Larak Island and well into the Islamic Republic’s territorial waters. 

Vessels that sail the route are assumed to have coordinated, at least in some degree, with Iranian authorities to secure passage. However, it is not clear in how many cases tolls have been paid or if the transit is a result of diplomatic negotiation.

CMA CGM has been approached for comment.

CMA CGM Kribi, which was purchased by the French carrier in 2021 from German owners, is only the third containership operated by a major box line to have transited the Strait of Hormuz since the onset of hostilities.

Earlier this week, two Cosco-operated ultra-large boxships, which had been held in the MEG since late February, appeared to have secured clearance from Iran to transit the Strait of Hormuz, and are now returning to Asia.