Two months in: What container data tells us about the Hormuz crisis

When the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to commercial traffic, 53 container vessels belonging to the world's top shipping lines found themselves trapped inside the Persian Gulf. Two months on, Kpler's Container Intelligence data paints a stark picture: 79% are still waiting.

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Current situation for container vessels

Of the 53 container vessels initially caught inside when transits became untenable, only nine have successfully exited the Strait. Two of those required a second attempt before making it through. Two MSC vessels were seized by Iranian authorities—the most severe outcome of the crisis. One additional vessel sustained damage after being struck by debris.

That leaves 42 vessels, crews, cargo, and capital in a state of indefinite commercial limbo.

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The numbers that matter

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Data as of May 2026. Vessel counts based on Kpler AIS tracking positions.

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Carrier performance analysis

We track every major carrier's exposure to this crisis. The data reveals significant variation in outcomes across shipping lines.

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CMA CGM: Heaviest absolute exposure

CMA CGM carries the heaviest exposure in absolute terms. With 15 vessels caught inside, the French carrier has managed to extract only two. This represents a 87% entrapment rate for the world's third-largest container line.

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MSC: Most complex situation

MSC's situation is the most complex. The world's largest carrier had 14 vessels in the zone and has recorded the only seizures of the crisis—two vessels taken by Iranian authorities. This development has drawn significant attention from maritime insurers and legal teams globally.

Four MSC vessels did manage to exit on their first attempt. However, eight remain inside. The seizure question adds a dimension to their exposure that extends well beyond simple delays.

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COSCO: Persistence pays off

COSCO is the one carrier with a story of persistence paying off. Both of its successful exits came on a second transit attempt. This suggests Chinese-flagged tonnage may be navigating a different diplomatic and risk calculus than Western carriers.

Three COSCO vessels remain inside. The two successful breakouts are the only confirmed second-attempt successes across the entire fleet.

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Zero escapes: The smaller carriers

Wan Hai, Evergreen, Yang Ming, ONE, and HMM have recorded zero escapes. For these smaller-exposure carriers with one to three vessels each, this represents a 100% entrapment rate. These vessels would have turned around and loaded again two or three times by now under normal operations.

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Carrier-by-carrier summary

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Note: ZIM (#10 globally by fleet size) excluded from this analysis as no vessels were affected; Wan Hai (#11) included as a substitute.