File photo: Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz. AP
"The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the Strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited earlier at 06:59 UTC, shortly after departing Bandar Abbas at 05:28 UTC", MarineTraffic said on X.
The United States and Iran agreed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday to a two-week ceasefire, during which passage through the Strait of Hormuz "will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces", Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.
Tehran maintained that it had restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz only to "enemy vessels," asserting that the strategic waterway was never closed to" non- hostile nations”.
In the final days leading up to the ceasefire, Iran permitted several commercial ships to transit the strait safely, including vessels from Pakistan, India, Japan, and France.
"NJ Earth's transit may be an early sign of movement, but it is still too soon to tell whether this reflects a broader ceasefire-driven reopening or a previously approved exception", Ana Subasic, analyst at MarineTraffic owner Kpler told AFP on Wednesday.
The Greek-owned ship kept its transponder signal on as it transited the strait via an Iranian-approved route near Larak Island, used by most vessels crossing the waterway for the past three weeks.
AFP could not immediately confirm the ship's destination.
"While we expect more crossings in the coming days, from a risk and compliance perspective this first transit should be read cautiously," Subasic added.
Some shipowners and charterers are preparing to move their vessels stuck in the Gulf, shipping journal Lloyd's List reported on Wednesday morning. It estimates around 800 ships are currently stuck in the Gulf.
The UN agency responsible for safety at sea said Wednesday that it is working to ensure "security of transit" through the Strait of Hormuz following the announcement of the ceasefire in the Middle East.
"I am already working with the relevant parties to implement an appropriate mechanism to ensure the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz," said International Maritime Organisation chief Arsenio Dominguez.
"The priority now is to ensure an evacuation that guarantees the safety of navigation," he said in a statement.
Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the dbwaterway in peacetime.
Securing Iran's "dominion" over the waterway was a central pillar of the 10-point plan submitted by Tehran as a foundation for upcoming negotiations with the US in Pakistan.
US President Donald Trump said that the United States was "very far along" in negotiating a long-term agreement, describing Iran's 10-point framework as "workable."
Beyond maritime control, Iran’s demands includ recognition of its right to enrich uranium, lifting of all sanctions, release of frozen Iranian assets abroad, payment of compensation to Iran, withdrawal of US forces from the region, an end to the fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, and guarantees against future attacks.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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