Iran War Shipping Update: Maersk Suspends Services

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28, 2026, has now completed its first full week—and the global container shipping industry remains in crisis mode.

On Friday, March 6, Maersk announced the temporary suspension of two key services connecting the Middle East to Asia and Europe, citing ongoing safety concerns for crews and vessels. The decision marks the latest escalation in a cascade of operational disruptions that have effectively frozen shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and forced carriers to abandon hopes of returning to the Red Sea anytime soon.

For vehicle importers and exporters relying on container shipping networks, the situation continues to create real-world delays, stranded cargo, and climbing costs.

What Happened This Week

The week began with Iranian authorities declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed following joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps transmitted warnings via maritime radio that any vessels attempting to pass through the strait would be attacked.

Within days, multiple vessels were struck. At least five tankers sustained damage, two crew members were killed, and approximately 150 ships anchored outside the strait to avoid the conflict zone.

By Monday, March 3, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had collapsed by roughly 90 percent compared to the prior week. Container shipping had effectively stopped entirely. The Joint Maritime Information Center confirmed that no tankers crossed the strait on March 3—a development unprecedented in modern commercial shipping.

Carrier Response: Service Suspensions Expand

Every major container shipping line has now implemented operational restrictions affecting Middle East cargo.

Maersk's latest suspension affects its FM1 service (connecting the Far East to the Middle East) and its ME11 service (connecting the Middle East to Europe). The company also confirmed that shuttle services in the Persian Gulf region are suspended until further notice.

Hapag-Lloyd has halted all transits through the Strait of Hormuz and suspended bookings to and from the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman (Sohar), and Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail).

MSC declared "End of Voyage" for all containerized cargo destined for ports inside the Arabian Gulf. In practical terms, this means containers are being discharged at the next available safe port—regardless of their original destination—and cargo owners must arrange onward transportation themselves.

CMA CGM instructed all vessels inside the Gulf to proceed to shelter and suspended Suez Canal transits, with ships rerouting around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

ONE, COSCO, and other carriers have also halted new bookings and are assessing cargo in transit on a voyage-by-voyage basis.

147 Ships Now Sheltering in the Gulf

According to freight analytics firm Xeneta, 147 container ships are currently sheltering in the Persian Gulf, unable to exit through the Strait of Hormuz. This trapped capacity is creating port congestion and equipment imbalances that will take weeks or longer to resolve even after the conflict ends.

Maritime intelligence firm MarineTraffic reports that 87 cargo ships remain conducting port calls within the Gulf, while another 37 are attempting to exit but cannot pass through the strait.

Container equipment is a finite resource. Every day that hundreds of containers remain stuck inside the Gulf is a day that those containers are unavailable for cargo moving through other trade lanes. The knock-on effects will ripple outward to Asia-Europe and Transpacific routes in the coming weeks.

Emergency Surcharges Are Now in Effect

Carriers are implementing emergency war-risk surcharges across Middle East-connected cargo.

CMA CGM announced surcharges of $2,000 per 20-foot container and $3,000 per 40-foot container for cargo to and from Middle East destinations. Reefers and special equipment face surcharges of $4,000.

MSC is applying a $2,000 per TEU war-risk surcharge for cargo shipped from the Arabian Peninsula to Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Emergency surcharges of $500 per TEU have also been added to shipments from the Indian subcontinent to East Africa.

Maersk's emergency contingency surcharges for cargo exiting Oman, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia went into effect Friday, March 6. Rates can reach as high as $3,300 per TEU for cargo destined for Latin America and the Caribbean.

These surcharges are in addition to baseline freight rate increases, fuel cost spikes, and the structural cost increases that result from longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope.

The Red Sea Is Closed Again

Any hopes that carriers might return to the Suez Canal have been abandoned. Maersk, which had begun resuming select trans-Suez services in late 2025 and early 2026 after Houthi attacks had subsided, has now paused future trans-Suez sailings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Reports indicate that Houthi forces have decided to resume attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea in response to the broader regional conflict. While no formal announcement has been made, the threat alone has been enough to halt carrier returns.

This means that Asia-Europe container traffic—already diverted around Africa since late 2023—will remain on longer routing for the foreseeable future. Each voyage via the Cape of Good Hope adds approximately 10 to 14 days compared to Suez routing, absorbing vessel capacity and increasing fuel costs.

What This Means for Vehicle Shippers

The Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf are critical nodes for vehicle shipping to destinations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Key transshipment hubs like Jebel Ali (Dubai) connect East-West container flows for car shipments bound for the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.

With Jebel Ali inaccessible and all Hormuz transits suspended, vehicle shipments destined for Persian Gulf countries face indefinite delays.

For cargo already in transit, the situation depends on where your vehicle is in the supply chain. If your container is aboard a vessel that has been diverted or declared "End of Voyage," you may need to arrange alternative transportation from whichever port receives the cargo. Demurrage and storage fees are accruing daily.

For cargo not yet shipped, routing decisions must account for the reality that no containers are moving into or out of the Persian Gulf. Alternative ports in Oman (Sohar may be accessible), Jordan (Aqaba), or Red Sea ports (Jeddah) may offer options depending on final destination—though each comes with its own risks and limitations.

Transit times for destinations beyond the immediate conflict zone are also affected. Carriers rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope are adding 10 to 14 days to voyages. Vessel bunching at European and Asian ports will create secondary congestion as ships arrive off-schedule.

How Long Will This Last

Military and logistics analysts have offered a range of estimates. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth suggested the conflict could last two, four, or six weeks. President Trump has indicated four to five weeks as a possibility. Neither estimate includes the time required for shipping networks to normalize after a ceasefire.

Once the Strait of Hormuz reopens, expect a surge of vessel traffic as carriers rush to clear backlogs. Ports on both sides of the strait will face congestion. Container equipment repositioning will take additional weeks. Schedule reliability will remain poor.

For vehicle shippers planning international moves in Q1 or Q2 2026, the safest assumption is that Middle East routing will remain disrupted through at least the end of March and likely longer.

Practical Steps for Vehicle Shippers

If you have a vehicle shipment in transit or planned for the Middle East, take these steps now:

Contact your shipping provider directly to confirm the current status of your booking and any route changes.

Confirm whether your cargo has been affected by an "End of Voyage" declaration, which shifts responsibility for onward transportation to the cargo owner.

Understand your exposure to demurrage and detention charges if your container is stranded at an intermediate port.

Evaluate alternative routing options if your destination is inside the Persian Gulf. Overland transportation from nearby ports (such as Aqaba or Sohar) may be the only viable path until maritime access resumes.

Build additional buffer time into any shipping timeline. Even destinations not directly affected by the Hormuz closure—including Europe, Africa, and South Asia—will see secondary delays from vessel rerouting and port congestion.

Disclaimer: This article is provided by West Coast Shipping as general informational content based on publicly available reporting as of March 6, 2026. The situation in the Middle East is developing rapidly and details may change. This is not legal, financial, or customs advice. All shipping routes, carrier policies, port statuses, and cost figures referenced are illustrative and based on publicly available information at the time of writing. Actual conditions, rates, and timelines may differ. Before making any shipping decisions, contact your logistics provider directly for the most current information.

Calculate Your International Car Shipping Costs

Whether you are navigating these disruptions or planning a shipment to a destination outside the conflict zone, West Coast Shipping can help you understand your options. Use our shipping calculator to get a quote for your vehicle move, or contact our team directly for the latest routing information