The United States paused naval escorts of merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday after a missile attack on a container ship resulted in injuries to crew.
Reports said that the 2,800-TEU CMA CGM San Antonio had switched off its identification system prior to commencing transit from Dubai. Marseilles-based CMA CGM in a statement confirmed the attack. It said injured crew were evacuated and are receiving medical care, and that it is closely monitoring the situation.
British security monitors reported the attack, but in a change from protocol did not identify the ship’s location.
Shortly after the attack, President Donald Trump announced on social media that the U.S. would pause the Project Freedom ship escorts while it pursued negotiations with Iran.
Trump’s statement came only hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth termed Project Freedom a success as “a powerful red, white and blue dome over the strait”. Hegseth added that the U.S. military had contacted hundreds of shipping lines to say it was safe to exit the Arabian Gulf.
The Malta-flagged San Antonio had operated in CMA CGM’s Midas service connecting the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Africa.
Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
Related coverage:
Panama container terminal bidding stacked against U.S. companies: Source
Tradepoint Atlantic, MSC break ground on Baltimore container terminal
Maersk ro-ro first U.S.-flag ship to safely clear Strait of Hormuz
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now