2 Cruise Ships Clear Strait of Hormuz After Being Stranded for Weeks
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Two German-operated cruise ships, Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend during a brief window when the waterway was open to ship traffic, after being stranded for weeks.
- The ships traveled with skeleton crews and no passengers, successfully leaving the Persian Gulf amid Iran's restrictions responding to U.S. and Israeli attacks.
- TUI Cruises confirmed the passage was coordinated with authorities and conducted with careful consideration of security, though they did not disclose details about securing safe passage.
- Both ships are heading toward Cape Town, South Africa, to resume their regular schedules, with previously canceled voyages from Italy and Greece now reactivated for passengers.
- The Strait of Hormuz has seen major disruptions recently, with over 1,600 vessels stranded due to tensions between Iran and the U.S., and very few European or U.S. ships navigating the area due to security risks.
