First since war: Malta-flagged vessel becomes first passenger ship to transit Strait of Hormuz

Dubai: A Malta-flagged cruise liner successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, marking the first time a passenger vessel has transited the volatile waterway since the outbreak of regional hostilities.

The ship, identified as the Celestyal Discovery, had been stationary in Dubai for approximately 47 days. According to data from the maritime tracking service MarineTraffic, the vessel originally arrived in Dubai in early March and remained docked throughout the height of the conflict.

The tracking service confirmed the transit in a public statement, noting that the ship is currently proceeding toward its next port of call.

"The cruise ship Celestyal Discovery has become the first passenger vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict," the MarineTraffic post read. "The Malta-flagged vessel departed Dubai on 17 April after remaining docked for approximately 47 days, having first arrived in early March."

The statement further detailed that the vessel "crossed the Strait of Hormuz at [UTC] today and is currently heading toward Muscat, Oman, with an estimated arrival on 18 April."

While the Celestyal Discovery is designed for commercial cruises, reports indicate that the ship was sailing without passengers during the transit. The successful passage is seen as a significant milestone for maritime operations in the region, which have been severely restricted by naval blockades and the presence of sea mines during the recent war.

The vessel is expected to arrive in Muscat later today as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilise shipping lanes in the Middle East.

Earlier, Donald Trump stated that the naval blockade would remain in place until a formal treaty is signed with Iran. He also confirmed that both countries are collaborating to remove naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz in order to restore global shipping.