Container shipping lines react to Middle East crisis
While cargo-carrying airlines, cargo handlers and the like have reacted to ongoing events in the Middle East, so too have the container shipping lines, whose decisions will have their own impact on airfreight moving into and out of the region in the days, weeks and possibly months ahead.
If cargo cannot be moved conveniently by sea, it may be moved by air.
Thus, for example, Taiwan-based Evergreen has temporarily suspended the acceptance of new bookings for a number of Middle Eastern ports.
In an announcement of March 5, the line said: “In order to safeguard the safety of our crew members, vessels, and customers’ cargo, Evergreen will temporarily suspend the acceptance of new bookings for the following countries and ports, including both Port of Loading (POL) and Port of Discharge (POD), effective immediately and until further notice”: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia (all ports except Jeddah) and Umm Qasr in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has declared an ‘End of Voyage’ for all cargo under its custody, including containers ashore or at sea, destined for ports in the Arabian Gulf.
Shipments on route would be diverted to the nearest safe port, MSC declared, where cargo would be discharged and made available for local delivery or recovery.
However, MSC has also offered other options for customers, inland logistics solutions for cargo moving to Iraq using its Asia – Türkiye services.
Elsewhere, Hamburg, Germany-headquartered Hapag-Lloyd announced on March 6 that – following the suspension of all shipments to and from the region– contingency procedures will be implemented for shipments that are already in transit to and from the following countries: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia (excluding Jeddah), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman and Yemen.
Previously, on March 3, Hapag-Lloyd had announced that, due to the conflict in the Middle East and the official closure of the Strait of Hormuz by relevant authorities, the line was suspending all vessel transits through the waterway until further notice.
Blockage of the strategically vital Straits of Hormuz, through which so much of the world’s oil as well as other cargo moves, will have an impact on the world’s airfreight industry – negatively not least in the rising price of jet fuel.
Today (March 9), The benchmark oil price has passed $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022, as the Middle East war enters its 10th day.
And, today (March 9), Ocean Network Express (ONE) has released a statement saying: “Due to the exceptional operational and security challenges in the Middle East region, including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, ONE has implemented contingency measures across the affected routes, including alternative routings and operational adjustments.”
On March 2, ONE had temporarily suspended acceptance of new bookings for cargo moving both to and from the Persian Gulf until further notice.
Maersk, too, reacted quickly. It has temporarily suspended cargo booking acceptance into and out of the UAE, Oman (all ports except Salalah), Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail only) until further notice.
With regard to airfreight (and Maersk Air Cargo operates its own fleet of freighters on behalf of A. P. Moller – Maersk), Maersk noted that several countries – including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran – have announced the temporary suspension of their airspaces.
Meanwhile, airlines have cancelled or re-routed flights through the region. “The reduced flight options and last-minute carrier schedule changes may result in delays or extended transit times,” Maersk noted.
“Impact on seaports and ocean operations may also contribute to extended lead times, particularly for SeaAir volumes connecting through the affected hubs,” it continued.
“Furthermore, ground movement at airports and cargo terminals – such as cargo handovers, acceptance, and processing – may be affected where local restrictions or staff shortages occur.”
