PARIS — A CMA CGM container ship damaged in a missile strike while transiting the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year may be sent for scrapping because of the extent of the damage, the French shipping group's chief executive said, underscoring the continuing risks to commercial shipping in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
Chief Executive Rodolphe Saade said the Malta-flagged CMA CGM San Antonio was "so damaged" by the missile attack in early May that the company was assessing whether the vessel should be retired rather than repaired, according to remarks made at a business conference in southern France. The vessel had remained stranded in the strait for several weeks before being escorted to safety, he said.
The attack injured several crew members, who were evacuated for medical treatment, CMA CGM said after the incident. The company has not disclosed the number or nationalities of those injured in its latest comments, while earlier reporting said several seafarers required evacuation following the strike.
Saade said the Marseille-based shipping group does not currently intend to resume normal operations through the Gulf, citing continued security concerns and advice from Iranian authorities. He added that CMA CGM, which had 14 vessels in the region when the conflict escalated, has already withdrawn several ships and aims to remove four more from the area.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil exports normally passes, has faced repeated disruptions during the regional conflict, prompting shipping companies to reassess routes and operations because of heightened security risks. Commercial traffic through the waterway has been affected by attacks, navigation hazards and broader geopolitical tensions.
When the attack occurred in May, CMA CGM confirmed that the San Antonio had been targeted while transiting the strait and said the vessel had sustained damage. Maritime security authorities also reported that a cargo ship had been struck by projectiles in the area, although responsibility for the attack was not independently established at the time.
Saade also reiterated his opposition to any proposal to impose transit fees for vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, describing the issue as one of several unresolved matters in wider U.S.-Iran discussions over maritime security. CMA CGM continues to operate a limited number of vessels in the Gulf while monitoring conditions, according to the company's latest statements.
