Shipping giants Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd suspending routes due to Middle East conflict

The Danish maritime company Maersk said Friday that it is temporarily suspending two key shipping routes due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which is continuing to disrupt global supply chains.

Maersk, which operates a fleet of about 700 vessels, will suspend service on routes connecting the Far East to the Middle East, as well as on the service connecting the Middle East to Europe.

“This decision has been made as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our personnel and vessels while minimizing operational disruption across our wider network,” Maersk officials said in a statement.

Iran has threatened merchant traffic in the region and has effectively moved to close the critical Strait of Hormuz following the U.S.-Israeli joint military operation against the Islamic republic that began a week ago.

The U.S. Maritime Administration, known as MARAD, issued an emergency alert advising all vessels to avoid the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

“Any U.S.-flagged, owned, or crewed commercial vessels that are operating in these areas should maintain a standoff of 30 nautical miles from U.S. military vessels to reduce the risk of being mistaken as a threat,” MARAD officials said.

Hapag-Lloyd, a leading German international shipping and container transportation company, has also significantly suspended its operations in the Middle East. It has ordered a complete stop on all cargo entering or leaving the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman and Yemen.

“The safety and security of our crews, vessels, and your cargo remain our highest priority,” Hapag-Lloyd said in a message to its customers. “This measure is therefore not discretionary but a necessary response to the current conditions and regulatory restrictions.”

“We are working to minimize disruption and will communicate any material changes to affected shipments as soon as possible,” Hapag-Lloyd officials said.