Major global container lines have begun adjusting services to and through the Middle East, signalling widening operational disruption risks following the weekend’s escalation in the Gulf region.
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company confirmed on March 1 that it had suspended all new bookings for worldwide cargo destined for the Middle East “until further notice” as a precautionary measure. The carrier said the safety of its crew remained its highest priority and that bookings would resume once the security situation improved.
According to New Straits Times, MSC has also instructed vessels operating in the Gulf to seek safe shelter amid heightened tensions. The publication reported that ships had been ordered to move to secure locations.
Carriers reroute via Cape
A.P. Moller – Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM had begun rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope following the deteriorating security situation in the region, the Daily Maverick reported, citing Reuters.
Maersk said it had paused future Trans-Suez sailings and would resume prioritising the Suez Canal once security conditions permitted. Hapag-Lloyd confirmed it was diverting its IMX service around southern Africa, while CMA CGM said it had suspended Suez Canal transits and redirected affected vessels via the Cape. Reuters reported that Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd had suspended vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.
Trade publication TradeWinds reported that industry analyst Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, said several vessels had turned around on Gulf exit routes, warning that disruption of scheduled calls could have “severe congestion ripple effects on hub ports in Asia”.
Jebel Ali operations briefly disrupted
In the United Arab Emirates, operations at the Port of Jebel Ali – the region’s largest container hub – were temporarily halted before resuming, according to media reports.
DP World confirmed that Jebel Ali remained operational after a temporary precautionary halt, Gulf News reported. The booking suspension follows weekend missile strikes on UAE infrastructure, including reports of minor damage at Jebel Ali.
Meanwhile, other ports in the UAE continue to operate normally, maritime publication Ship & Bunker states. These include Sharjah, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, as confirmed in an advisory issued on Sunday by port agency Inchcape Shipping Services.
Jebel Ali operations briefly disrupted
In the United Arab Emirates, operations at the Port of Jebel Ali – the region’s largest container hub – were temporarily halted before resuming, according to media reports.
DP World confirmed that Jebel Ali remained operational after a temporary precautionary halt, Gulf News reported. The booking suspension follows weekend missile strikes on UAE infrastructure, including reports of minor damage at Jebel Ali.
Meanwhile, other ports in the UAE continue to operate normally, according to maritime publication Ship & Bunker. These include Sharjah, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, as confirmed in an advisory issued on Sunday by port agency Inchcape Shipping Services.
