Crowley confirms US-flagged tanker CS Anthem transited Strait of Hormuz — second Project Freedom passage
Crowley Maritime said one of its managed vessels, the US-flagged medium-range tanker CS Anthem, has safely completed its transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement adds visibility to the limited number of US-flagged ships that have been able to exit the Persian Gulf since the conflict began, under the Trump administration's Project Freedom operation.
The company declined to share operational details on routing or security arrangements, citing policy. CS Anthem is now the second US-flagged commercial vessel — after Alliance Fairfax — confirmed to have transited the strait under the new framework. Project Freedom routes ships through Oman's territorial waters and a US-backed enhanced security area south of the traditional Traffic Separation Scheme.
Industry observers continue to view both transits as highly coordinated, one-off passages rather than evidence of a broader reopening. Both tankers belong to a small group of US-flagged ships that had been effectively stranded in the Gulf since late February. They are enrolled in either the Maritime Security Program (MSP) or the Tanker Security Program (TSP), which guarantee the availability of US-flagged commercial tonnage for military logistics during crises.
The CS Anthem is a 49,990 metric-tonne medium-range tanker operated by Crowley under a bareboat charter, replacing the Stena Immaculate within the Tanker Security Program following the latter's 2025 collision. Despite the successful transits, commercial movement through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints — remains sharply constrained. Mine threats, drone activity and an expanded military presence continue to deter the broader return of merchant traffic.
Key Takeaways:
1. Crowley confirmed that its managed US-flagged medium-range tanker CS Anthem safely completed transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
2. CS Anthem is the second US-flagged commercial vessel — after Alliance Fairfax — confirmed to transit the strait under Project Freedom.
3. Project Freedom routes ships through Oman's territorial waters and an enhanced US-backed security area south of the Traffic Separation Scheme.
4. Both tankers are enrolled in either the Maritime Security Program or the Tanker Security Program, securing US-flagged tonnage for military logistics.
5. Mine threats, drone activity and expanded military presence continue to constrain commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
