Six cruise ships that were stranded in the Gulf have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz in a daring escape assisted by the US Navy. The fleet included two vessels operated by TUI, moored in Abu Dhabi and Doha respectively, MSC's Euribia (which had sailed from Dubai), two ships belonging to Greek cruise provider Celestyal, and a ship from Saudi Arabian cruise line Aroya, sailing from Dammam.
While passengers and surplus staff had been evacuated several weeks earlier, the vessels were still operated by dozens of crew members. Over the weekend, taking advantage of the brief window provided by the ceasefire between Iran and the US, the captains made the bold move to sail through the Iranian-controlled Strait of Hormuz.
On Friday night, the ships began leaving their respective ports, remaining as close as possible to the Oman-owned Musandam Peninsula. Celestyal Discovery cleared the strait shortly after midnight. TUI's Mein Schiff 4 vessel was the last to make it through the waterway, reaching safety late on Sunday night. All six cruises have since continued sailing through the Arabian Sea.
Sailing through the Strait is not a simple task at the best of times, with rocky terrain making it impossible for large ships to pass without entering Iranian territory and being detected by the IRGC. Since the war between Iran, Israel, and the US began on February 28, Tehran officials have shut the waterway, making the threat of attack on vessels trying to get through a huge concern.
The dangerous escape comes after cruise liners became stranded in ports in the Gulf due to the war in the Middle East. The IRGC itself has been known to use drones to strike ships, making the operation to get the six cruise ships across the strait a dangerous one. But according to sources with insider knowledge of the journey, the cruise ships were able to cross safely by sailing extremely close to the Omani coast, an option not available to larger oil tankers. By staying out of Iranian waters, the cruises reduced the threat from Iran. However, the risk was not entirely removed, given the IRGC's unpredictability, naval expert Christian Le Miere told The Telegraph.
Earlier this week, Iran attacked three ships near the waterway, with the Islamic Republic saying it fired on three outbound ships and seized two. The IRGC is also equipped with drones that can be launched from hundreds of miles away, meaning the threat persists even after a ship has left Iranian waters. There was also coordination with the US Navy, which agreed to provide cover for the cruises if needed. The ships kept their communication channels open and sailed during daylight so their identity would be clear.
Cruise liner Celestyal gave its crew the option to disembark in Dubai, but all staff onboard agreed to complete the journey. In solidarity, the company's chief operating officer boarded the ship for the daring voyage. Celestyal's chief commercial officer Lee Haslett said: 'It's been a complex and fast-moving situation, and I couldn't be prouder of our crew. From our captains to our onboard and support teams, everyone played their part in a safe and well-managed outcome.'
The closing of the strait has plunged the world into an energy crisis as tankers carrying a fifth of the world's oil have been blocked from using the channel. The successful crossing of the ships comes after Iran opened fire on ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz, with a cruise liner caught in the line of fire after the key waterway was shut again, according to maritime sources, as tankers turned around and ran for cover. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a cruise ship three nautical miles east of Oman reported seeing a 'splash in close proximity', raising fears a passenger vessel may have been caught up in the attack.
President Donald Trump has extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran, while Tehran officials said that attacks on ships this week were in retaliation for the American naval blockade of Iranian ports and for the US firing on and seizing an Iranian ship that did not stop when hailed by a vessel enforcing the blockade. It also comes as the Iranian regime shared footage claiming to show masked naval forces seizing a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks on shipping dwindled starting in mid-March as Iran imposed effective control over the strait. The mere risk of attack has been enough to deter ships from trying to get through. Iran has demanded details on cargo, ownership and crew and, on at least some occasions, imposed a $1 per barrel tax on oil and oil products, or $2 million for a large tanker.
