About 800 ships are preparing to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which has been reopened after an agreement was reached to cease fire between the United States and Iran. The vital waterway had already been closed by Iran at the end of February. Ships were stranded, unable to guarantee the safety of thousands of sailors and their cargo on both sides, and traffic slowed significantly. Ship owners in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe welcomed the possibility of the strait reopening with relief and caution. There is little change in maritime traffic around the strait on Wednesday, although many said they are contacting insurance companies and security consultants and have placed their ships on high alert.
