The critical trade route has been blocked by Iran amid the ongoing conflict, sparked after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on February 28. Iran responded by hitting targets across the Middle East, plunging the region into conflict.
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Traffic through the strait has dropped significantly since the conflict started.
But it has been reported that in the past week, a Japanese-owned tanker carrying liquefied natural gas and a vehicle carrier have passed in and out of the channel, Australian news site news.com reported.
It is thought the ship had been decommissioned and scrapped for parts before the war broke out, but it appears that it has since resurfaced.
A zombie ship is a vessel runs under the identity of a ship that has been officially retired – so an active ship using an alias of one which no longer exists.
This is generally done to evade international sanctions, enable illicit cargo movements and bypass safety regulations.
It comes as pressure mounts on Iran to reopen the key trade route – it is the only way out of the Persian Gulf.