Maersk suspends 2 key shipping services amid Middle East war disruptions

ISTANBUL

Shipping giant Maersk has temporarily halted two major shipping services linking the Middle East with Asia and Europe on Friday as the ongoing war involving Iran continues to disrupt global supply chains.

The Danish company said in a statement that it suspended the FM1 service connecting the Far East to the Middle East and the ME11 service linking the Middle East to Europe, citing safety concerns for its vessels and crews.

The move came as the US- and Israeli-led military campaign against Iran entered its seventh day, triggering severe disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints.

The strait, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, normally carries around 20% of global oil and gas shipments.

Container shipping companies have largely halted transits through the waterway since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa instead.

Maersk also said its regional shuttle services operating within the Persian Gulf have been suspended until further notice.

In addition, the company announced that its ME1 service connecting the Middle East with northern Europe will temporarily skip calls at Jebel Ali, one of the region’s largest ports in the United Arab Emirates, while continuing scheduled stops in India and Oman.

Earlier on Wednesday, the firm announced that it temporarily suspended cargo bookings to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, and Oman.