MV Banglar Joyjatra sets sail as Hormuz opens for commercial traffic

The ship is expected to cross the passage tonight

The Bangladesh-flagged vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra has set sail toward the Strait of Hormuz from the outer anchorage of Mina Saqr port in the United Arab Emirates, following an official announcement by Iran that the strategic waterway is fully open for commercial traffic.

The state-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) confirmed that the vessel lifted anchor at approximately 9pm Bangladesh time on Friday.

Commodore Mahmudul Malek, managing director of BSC, told bdnews24.com: "The ship is currently about 20 nautical miles from the Strait. We expect it to cross the passage tonight once final clearance is secured."

The vessel, carrying 37,000 tonnes of fertiliser, is en route to its next commercial destinations: Cape Town and Durban in South Africa.

The ship with 31 Bangladeshi crew members on board originally set sail from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al Khair port on Apr 8, following a ceasefire, but was denied permission to enter the Strait.

Prior to that, the vessel attempted to depart from Jebel Ali port in the UAE but was forced to turn back by the UAE Coast Guard due to escalating regional hostilities following the US-Israel joint attacks on Iran.

The Joyjatra first entered Middle Eastern waters on Jan 26.

While stationed at Terminal 10 of Jebel Ali port in late February, the crew witnessed a drone attack on a nearby facility.

Just a day after docking, a missile struck an oil reservoir only 200 metres away from the ship, sparking a massive fire and leaving the crew in a state of constant anxiety.

"It felt like being trapped in a suffocating environment," one sailor remarked, describing the months spent watching missiles and drones streak across the sky while their departure was repeatedly delayed.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

Throughout the conflict, commercial shipping was virtually paralysed, forcing the Joyjatra to seek refuge in various territorial waters, including Sharjah, to wait for the passage to reopen.

Ship Captain Md Shafiqul Islam confirmed the vessel’s progress Friday night, saying: "We have lifted anchor and are steadily moving toward Hormuz."