Attention! Multiple shipping companies announce emergency arrangements for vessels on Middle East routes!

Recently, the situation in the Middle East has been severe, and shipping risks have increased. Major shipping companies such as COSCO SHIPPING, Maersk, CMA CGM, Evergreen, and SeaLead have issued emergency arrangements for cargo on relevant routes.

01 Maersk: Vessel Emergency Updates

To assist customers in managing their supply chains more efficiently and effectively amidst the current Middle East situation, Maersk will exclusively publish emergency arrangement information for vessels transiting the region and the Strait of Hormuz on the relevant pages.

Including vessel name and voyage, departure information, last port before entering the Strait of Hormuz, next port, next port ETA, and the vessel's current status, such as whether operations are completed, waiting at anchor, or waiting to transit.

Furthermore, Maersk stated that services on various routes in the Middle East are severely disrupted. To ensure cargo safety and maintain service continuity, emergency measures have been implemented on affected routes, including rerouting and operational adjustments.

Therefore, it is necessary to implement an emergency freight increase to cover related restrictions and increased operational costs.

Scope of application: From/to UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail), Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman (Sohar) from all over the world.

Fee standard: USD 1800 per 20' dry container; USD 3000 per 40' and 45' dry/high cube container; USD 3800 per reefer/special container.

Effective March 2, 2026, this freight rate increase will apply to all ports except Sohar, Oman, and will be borne by the freight payer.

Sohar, Oman, effective March 3, 2026.

The specific scope of application includes:

All bookings not yet loaded onto the vessel;

Cargo that has been transported by sea but has not yet been loaded or unloaded at ports in the aforementioned countries;

Cargo not yet loaded for destinations to and from the aforementioned areas;

All new bookings from March 2, 2026 (March 3 for Oman);

Not applicable to cargo transiting only through the aforementioned ports.

If the vessel carrying the export cargo has completed its last departure from any affected port before February 27, 2026, the emergency freight increase may be exempted.

If the vessel calls at multiple affected ports on the same voyage, the final departure date of the last affected port will be used as the basis for determination.

In addition, Maersk has suspended import and export bookings for reefer and dangerous/special cargo to/from UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia since the 2nd, until further notice.

All new bookings between the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) and the Gulf market (UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, and Dammam and Jubail in Saudi Arabia) are suspended.

02 CMA CGM: Cargo Arrangement Options

CMA CGM's cargo arrangements under the current situation offer the following options:

1. Delivery of goods at emergency ports: Equipment must be returned at emergency ports.

2. Transportation to the customer's designated location by road or rail: subject to negotiation and confirmation based on price and transportation resource availability.

3. Change of port of destination (COD) to customer-designated port: subject to negotiation and confirmation based on price, route service, and port operability under the current situation.

According to the relevant terms and conditions of the bill of lading, all expenses incurred by the above measures shall be borne by the cargo owner.

ECS fees must also be paid before cargo release (excluding cargo originating from the US).

03 Evergreen: Announcement regarding Middle East services

In view of the recent changes in the situation in the Middle East, the Red Sea/Strait of Hormuz, and the development of regional security, Evergreen Marine Corporation continues to closely monitor relevant dynamics and maintain real-time contact with international maritime safety organizations and relevant parties.

The company always prioritizes the personal safety of crew members, the safety of vessel navigation, and the safety of customer cargo, and has taken the following measures in response to the current situation to ensure operational safety and service stability:

I. Strengthening navigation safety and risk control mechanisms

All vessels entering, leaving, or transiting relevant waters will undergo continuous risk assessment in accordance with international maritime safety regulations, and navigation plans will be adjusted as necessary to ensure navigation safety.

II. Flexible route and operational scheduling arrangements

For voyages in affected areas, the company has activated a dynamic monitoring and contingency mechanism, including speed adjustments, planning alternative routes when necessary, and related preventive measures to reduce potential risks.

III. Maintaining close coordination with relevant agencies and alliance partners

The company maintains close communication with international maritime organizations, port authorities, insurance units, and members of the Ocean Alliance to ensure real-time information sharing and coordinated response.

IV. Business Continuity and Contingency Plan Preparation

The company has completed multiple contingency plans, including possible alternative port arrangements and voyage adjustment plans. If adjustments are required due to the development of the situation, customers will be notified in a timely manner and subsequent services will be properly arranged.

04 SeaLead

The safety and security of the crew are always its top priority. In view of the current situation, to ensure the safety of the crew, vessels, and cargo, all transit through the Strait of Hormuz has been suspended.

All vessels currently located within or en route to the Gulf have received instructions to proceed to a safe haven area with immediate effect.

05 COSCO SHIPPING

On March 4, COSCO SHIPPING Lines issued a service advisory regarding the situation update in the Middle East.

In view of the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the resulting restrictions on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, to maximize the safety of your cargo transportation and the stability of overall shipping operations, based on the latest risk assessment results from COSCO SHIPPING Lines, we have decided to suspend new bookings on relevant routes with immediate effect. The resumption time will be announced separately.

The scope of business involved is as follows:

Suspension of all new bookings from global locations to UAE (excluding Fujairah, Khor Fakkan), Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (excluding Jeddah), and Kuwait.

Suspension of all new bookings from UAE (excluding Fujairah, Khor Fakkan), Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (excluding Jeddah), and Kuwait to global locations.