Danish company Maersk
Shipping giant suspends Gulf shipping bookings until further notice
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Danish shipping giant Maersk announced a sudden decision to suspend cargo booking operations to and from the Gulf region with immediate effect “until further notice,” citing heightened security risks.
The move comes on the fifth day of the escalating war in the Middle East, following what the company described as a comprehensive assessment of the regional security situation.
Scope of suspension
In an official statement, Maersk said the suspension applies to cargo bookings covering the following countries and ports:
- United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.
- Sultanate of Oman: all ports except Salalah.
- Saudi Arabia: limited to the ports of Dammam and Jubail.
The company did not specify a timeline for resuming normal operations.
Humanitarian, geographic exceptions
Despite the broad scope of the decision, Maersk introduced measures aimed at safeguarding essential supplies.
Essential goods, including basic food items, medicines, and medical supplies, will continue to be shipped.
The company also confirmed that the suspension does not apply to Jordan and Lebanon, where operations remain unchanged.
The announcement comes amid intensifying regional tensions involving international and regional actors, including the United States, Iran, and ‘Israel’, raising concerns over the safety of maritime navigation in vital Gulf waterways.
Maersk’s decision signals growing disruption to global supply chains, along with rising insurance costs and operational risks linked to the conflict.
