Maersk has issued a further operational update for the Middle East, setting out extensive booking restrictions, alternative landbridge routes and additional charges as disruption around the Strait of Hormuz continues to affect regional shipping and port operations.
The carrier said it is closely monitoring the situation and is taking measures intended to protect people, cargo integrity and network stability. It cautioned that arrangements remain subject to change because of the volatile operating environment.
For landside transport, Maersk has temporarily paused bookings on routes from the UAE and Qatar via Jeddah and Oman ports, from Jeddah to the UAE, Oman and Qatar, and from Salalah and Sohar to several Gulf destinations. However, it continues to offer selected carrier-haulage and landbridge services, including routes from Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE through Salalah and Khor Fakkan, and from Iraq through Aqaba.
Operational context
Ocean booking policies vary by cargo type. Reefer bookings remain suspended to and from Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, selected Saudi ports and Jordan, as well as to most UAE destinations. Exceptions include certain services involving Khor Fakkan, Jebel Ali via landbridge, Lebanon, Israel, Salalah and Sohar. Maersk said it will seek to give special attention to shipments containing critical foodstuffs, medicines and perishable cargo.
Dangerous-goods cargo faces further restrictions, although bookings to Khor Fakkan, Fujairah and certain Oman locations can be accepted subject to capacity, safety procedures, direct-delivery requirements and, for some IMO classes, regulatory approvals. The company said restrictions on dangerous-goods bookings at Israel’s Haifa and Ashdod ports have been lifted, with bookings now accepted in line with local regulations.
Khor Fakkan is facing vessel congestion, limited berthing availability, high yard utilisation and road delays, according to Maersk. The terminal is relocating containers to Sajaa inland container depot, which may affect collection procedures. For selected shipments booked to Khor Fakkan, the final port of destination may be changed to Jebel Ali, either through Fujairah and bonded inland transport or through direct discharge at Jebel Ali where feeder vessels can transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Maersk warned customers that these arrangements may result in longer transit and delivery times, altered collection procedures and additional transportation, handling, clearance or storage costs. At Fujairah, selected full containers destined for Jebel Ali are being moved to the Al Hayl off-dock yard due to terminal constraints and yard density.
The carrier has introduced an Emergency Freight rate for cargo loading from or destined for Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman excluding Salalah, and Saudi Arabia’s Dammam and Jubail ports. Rates are USD 1,800 for a 20-foot dry container, USD 3,000 for a 40-foot dry container, and USD 3,800 for reefer, special and dangerous-goods containers.
Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz will also incur a USD 1,000-per-container charge, covering costs including insurance premiums and crew risk compensation. Maersk said this charge is additional to the Emergency Freight rate for relevant upper-Gulf cargo.
The company has also changed arrangements for returning empty containers in several regional markets. Empty containers for imports into the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia’s Jubail, Iraq and Oman’s Duqm will not be accepted at usual return locations until further notice, with returns redirected to designated depots or subject to limited acceptance and applicable drop-off charges.