Project Freedom: Two U.S.-flag ships safely transit Strait of Hormuz

Photo: CENTCOM

In a post on Truth Social yesterday, President Trump announced Project Freedom, an initiative to get ships safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Countries from all over the world, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz,” he posted. “…we have told these Countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”

CENTCOM announced that its forces would begin supporting Project Freedom, May 4, to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.

U.S. military support to Project Freedom, said CENTCOM, will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.

This morning CENTCOM reported: “U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom. American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. As a first step, 2 U.S.-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey.”

And while Iranian state media claimed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a U.S. warship with two missiles, CENTCOM says that didn’t happen.

WAIT AND SEE

Industry reaction has been cautious. Jakob Larsen, BIMCO’s chief safety & security officer, noted:

• No formalized details or guidance to the shipping industry regarding “Project Freedom” have been announced at this point.
• Without consent from Iran to let commercial ships transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz, it is currently not clear whether the Iranian threat to ships can be degraded or suppressed.
• In view of the Iranian threats against any ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with Iran’s military, there is a risk of hostilities breaking out again if “Project Freedom” goes ahead.
• It is unclear whether “Project Freedom” is sustainable in the longer run or whether it will be a limited operation to get some of the trapped ships out.
• The overall security situation for the shipping industry is currently unchanged, and our advice is for all shipowners to continue carrying out thorough risk assessments.