Chinese container ships pass through Strait of Hormuz at second attempt, data shows

Ships sail in close formation after turning back Friday, navigating the strait amid ongoing Iran conflict

Two Chinese container ships sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday at the second attempt after turning back into the Gulf on Friday, ship-tracking data showed.

The vessels were sailing in close formation out of the strait and into open waters, according to data on the MarineTraffic platform.

Officials from COSCO, the shipping group that operates the two vessels, could not be reached for immediate comment.

The critical waterway has effectively been shut since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on Feb 28.