Please find the following updates on the disruptions to ocean services in and out of Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean in light of the conflict involving Iran.
Major ocean carriers have enacted service suspensions, booking halts, vessel withdrawals, and route diversions in response to heightened security risks affecting key maritime chokepoints. These actions are impacting global schedules, transit times, and capacity availability.Current Situation
Based on carrier advisories and maritime authority reporting, the following conditions are in effect:- Strait of Hormuz:
Commercial vessel transits are effectively suspended, preventing direct ocean access to Persian Gulf ports including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (Gulf coast), and Iraq.
- Suez Canal & Red Sea:
All major carriers have suspended Suez Canal transits and Bab el‑Mandeb routing. Vessels are being rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, adding significant transit time and reducing effective capacity.
- Eastern Mediterranean:
While ports remain operational, services linked to Middle East, India Subcontinent, and Red Sea routings are being withdrawn or restructured, resulting in omitted calls, blank sailings, and congestion at transshipment hubs.
Carrier Service Status (Summary)
The following actions have been announced by major ocean carriers:- MSC
- Suspension of all worldwide bookings to the Middle East
- Vessels operating in or bound for the Gulf instructed to proceed to safe shelter
- Maersk
- Suspension of Strait of Hormuz crossings
- Pause of all Trans‑Suez and Bab el‑Mandeb sailings
- Middle East–India–Mediterranean services rerouted via Cape of Good Hope
- CMA CGM
- Suspension of Suez Canal transits until further notice
- Vessels inside or bound for the Gulf ordered to proceed to shelter
- Implementation of Emergency Conflict Surcharges across affected trades
- Hapag‑Lloyd
- Pause of Trans‑Suez services, including ISC‑linked loops
- Suspension of Hormuz transits
- Introduction of War Risk Surcharges for Gulf cargo
- COSCO Shipping
- Vessels directed to safe waters or standby anchorage following Gulf operations
- Reduced exposure to Middle East port calls
Thick smoke continues to billow from the port facilities in Jebel Ali.
Impact to Wealth Rich Customers
Customers should anticipate the following impacts across affected trade lanes:- No direct ocean access to Persian Gulf ports
- Extended transit times (often +10–20 days) due to Cape of Good Hope routing
- Blank sailings, rolled cargo, and schedule unreliability
- Capacity constraints and equipment imbalances
- Emergency Conflict and War Risk Surcharges applied by carriers
- Increased congestion at Eastern Mediterranean and European transshipment hubs
- Immediate suspension of any LCL service to / from the region
- Introduction of a War Risk Surcharge of US$60w/m of any LCL cargo to / from the region
Wealth Rich advise
Wealth Rich teams are actively monitoring carrier announcements and vessel movements. We recommend customers:- Plan for longer lead times and reduced schedule certainty
- Expect rate volatility and additional surcharges
- Engage Shipco early for routing alternatives and contingency planning
- Avoid time‑critical shipments into affected regions where possible
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