Escalating tensions in the Middle East have prompted leading global shipping companies such as Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM to simultaneously announce the suspension of operations through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime route that transports nearly 25% of the world’s oil supply.
According to the latest announcement, Danish shipping giant Maersk has decided to “temporarily suspend all vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice” for safety reasons. The company stated that its vessels will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, while its representative offices in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman will also temporarily close.
This decision comes after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the Strait.
Another major shipping company, MSC, has also instructed its vessels operating in the Persian Gulf to move to “designated safe shelter areas” and await further instructions.
Earlier, German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd (the world’s fifth-largest shipping company) and French carrier CMA CGM had issued similar warnings, instructing their ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, CMA CGM has also suspended operations through the Suez Canal.
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, urged shipping companies to exercise maximum caution and recommended that “vessels avoid transiting the affected area until conditions improve.”
Not only maritime transport but also the aviation sector has been significantly affected by the regional tensions. According to a correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency in South America, São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport—the largest airport in Latin America—had to cancel 17 flights to Doha and Dubai over the past weekend.
Two airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways, have canceled a total of 15 flights since February 27, including 8 flights canceled on February 28 at Guarulhos Airport alone.
At Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport, two additional Emirates flights were also canceled. By March 1, two more Emirates flights to and from Dubai were canceled. Both airlines have announced a temporary suspension of operations until March 2 and advised passengers to regularly check flight status through official channels.
