CMA CGM Ship Struck by Projectile in Hormuz; US Halts ‘Project Freedom’

President Donald Trump said the naval escort operation would be paused for “a short period of time” just two days after it began.​President Donald Trump said the naval escort operation would be paused for “a short period of time” just two days after it began. 

Just two days after the U.S. committed to guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, “Project Freedom” was put on ice Tuesday evening.

In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said the operation would be paused for “a short period of time,” but did not give a timeline for a possible return. The U.S. naval blockade on ships attempting to stop at Iranian ports will stay in place, the president confirmed.

Hours later, CMA CGM said that one of its ships, the CMA CGM San Antonio, was the target of an attack while traversing the strait. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the cargo ship was hit by an unknown projectile.

According to the ocean carrier, injured crew members from the ship have been evacuated and are being provided with medical care.

The Malta-flagged ship carries more than 2,800 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and was deployed on the Midas 2 service, which stops at ports in the Persian Gulf, India and South Africa.

The CMA CGM San Antonio was sitting outside Dubai as of Tuesday, according to transponder data that was turned off ahead of the attempted eastward transit. The vessel had left the U.A.E.’s Khalifa Port on May 2, and was scheduled for arrival at India’s Mundra Port by May 10.

The incident follows a previous attack on one of the container shipping company’s vessels in April, which the liner said was a target of “warning shots” by Iranian forces. The ship’s crew members were unharmed, CMA CGM said.

Earlier last month, the CMA CGM Kribi exited the Persian Gulf through the strait, marking the first successful passage for a ship owned by a major Western ocean carrier since the war in Iran started in late February.

UKMTO has received 46 reports of incidents involving vessels operating in and around the the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman since Feb. 28. Data from the International Maritime Organization indicates there have been 10 confirmed seafarer fatalities.

This is the second time in a month that vessel operators will endure an “on-again, off-again” conundrum related to transiting the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has imposed stricter controls of navigation for maritime shipping since the U.S.-Israeli offensive in the Middle East began.

Last month, after Israel and Lebanon came to a 10-day ceasefire, there was a less-than-24-hour window where Iran said the strait was open, only to reverse the decision and attack vessels passing through.

“For shipping lines, the effect of these developments will be a very cautious approach to any new announcements of open passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” said Lars Jensen, CEO of container shipping consultancy Vespucci Maritime, in a Wednesday update on LinkedIn. “Likely many will have a ‘let’s wait a while and see if it holds’ attitude, and consequently this will serve to further prolong a normalization of the situation even if a peace agreement is signed.”

Ahead of the CMA CGM attack report, MarineTraffic said operators will likely require several days of sustained calm in the strait and evidence of reliable passage before resuming transits.

“The suspension of Project Freedom also leaves a gap between the absence of fresh attacks and the restoration of commercial confidence: vessels may still face elevated war-risk premiums, uncertain rules of engagement, navigation interference, and the risk that negotiations break down,” said Ana Subasic, trade risk analyst at MarineTraffic. “As a result, the current pause is better read as a fragile operational lull rather than a confirmed de-escalation or reopening of the Strait.”

On Tuesday, Iranian media outlets reported that the Islamic republic launched a new mechanism governing ship transits through the channel, known as the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Under the system, vessels intending to pass through the strait will receive guidance from an official email address outlining the rules for transit. Ships are required to comply with the framework and obtain prior authorization before crossing the waterway. The new mechanism coincides with Iran’s establishment of a toll system, with vessels already reportedly paying tolls to safely pass through.

Iran’s parliament is also considering legislation that would formalize restrictions on vessels tied to the U.S. and Israel.

Under the short-lived Project Freedom, the U.S. military assisted two American-flagged ships through the conflict-ridden conduit, with one of them being the Alliance Fairfax, a vehicle carrier operated by Maersk subsidiary Farrell Lines. According to a Reuters report, the CS Anthem chemical tanker also passed through the strait under U.S. guidance.