Major containership owners have suspended operations in the strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of fighting in the region.
Danish shipping firm Maersk said it is suspending all vessel crossings in the strait of Hormuz until further notice. "As a result, services calling ports in the Arabian Gulf may experience delays, rerouting, or schedule adjustments," the company said.
Maersk said it will also "pause future trans Suez sailings through the Bab el Mandeb Strait for the time being. Until further notice, all sailings on the ME11 (Middle East–India to Mediterranean) and MECL (Middle East–India to East Coast US) services will be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope."
Before the latest round of fighting, the company had planned to resume Red Sea transits. But with the deterioration in security it decided to maintain Cape of Good Hope routings for its Asia–Europe services and to redirect some upcoming ships away from the Suez Canal route on 27 February.
Fellow containership owner Hapag Lloyd said it is suspending all vessel transits through the strait of Hormuz because of the conflict until further notice.
Another containership owner, MSC, said it is halting all bookings for worldwide cargo to the Middle East region until further notice and "has instructed all vessels currently operating in the Mideast Gulf region, as well as those en route to the area, to proceed to designated safe shelter areas until further notice."
