Maersk suspends two services on Middle East routes

Danish container shipping firm A.P. Moller-Maersk has temporarily suspended shipping service routes tying the Middle East to Asia and Europe, amid intense escalation in the Iran conflict.

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Maersk has suspended two service routes: one that connects the Middle East to the Far East [Asia], and another connecting the Middle East to Europe.

The decision comes as several vessels remain anchored around the Persian Gulf region, as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to tanker traffic. 

“This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our personnel and vessels while minimizing operational disruption across our wider network,” the shipping company said in an advisory.

Separately, China’s Cosco Shipping Lines has suspended new bookings to and from several Middle Eastern locations, citing restrictions on transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier this week, several container liners, including CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd halted trans-Suez services through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and rerouted affected voyages via the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope, citing similar reasons.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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