Maersk Halts Bookings to Key Gulf Markets as Hormuz Blockade Disrupts Services

Global shipping major Maersk has suspended cargo bookings to and from several Gulf nations as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz snarls vessel movements and disrupts schedules. In a customer advisory, the line said it has stopped accepting new bookings for reefers, dangerous goods and out-of-gauge/in-gauge cargo on affected services to and from the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia until further notice.

The company said the decision was driven by operational constraints and safety considerations amid the closure of the strategic chokepoint, a critical artery for oil and container traffic in West Asia. Existing bookings will be subject to delays, possible re-routing and additional contingency measures as Maersk works on network adjustments and alternative solutions, it added.

The suspension comes as shippers and forwarders across the region grapple with mounting uncertainty on sailing schedules, equipment availability and freight costs to and from Gulf ports. Maersk said it is monitoring the situation closely and will update customers as conditions evolve but warned that service reliability is likely to remain under pressure as long as the Hormuz disruption persists.