Regional Conflict Escalates: Major Shipping Lines Pull Out of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz

On Saturday, two of the world's leading ocean carriers officially suspended maritime operations through the Persian Gulf as hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran reached a breaking point. This move is triggering a drastic decline in maritime traffic within this critical energy corridor.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Issues Closure Warning

Tensions spiked further as Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued warnings to several vessels, stating that the Strait of Hormuz - the vital artery for oil trade from the Persian Gulf - is "essentially closed," according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Emergency Responses from CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd

In direct response to the hostilities, French carrier CMA CGM issued a directive for its vessels within the Persian Gulf to "seek shelter" and simultaneously suspended transit through the Suez Canal due to the regional spillover.

In an official statement, the world’s third-largest container line emphasized: "All ships currently in the Gulf, or on route to the Gulf, have received the instruction, with immediate effect, to take shelter."

The carrier also announced a forced rerouting strategy: "Passage through the Suez is suspended until further notice and ships will be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope," This detour around the southern tip of Africa is expected to add thousands of kilometers to total transit distances.

Following suit, Hapag-Lloyd, the world's fifth-largest container line, announced it is suspending all transit through the Strait of Hormuz - the gateway linking the Persian Gulf to open waters - “until further notice.”

Other major players, including the Danish giant Maersk, have alerted customers to significant delivery delays as vessels are forced to reroute. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has issued warnings for commercial vessels to stay clear of the Persian Gulf due to ongoing military activity.

Impact on Oil Supply Chains and Maritime Security

The Strait of Hormuz is not only a frequent hotspot for vessel seizures and attacks but is also the primary "chokepoint" of the global oil trade. This vital corridor connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, situated between Iran and Oman’s Musandam territory. Iranian officials have frequently threatened to block the strait in the event of an attack by U.S. forces.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil passed through this narrow waterway daily in 2024 - equivalent to nearly 20% of global liquid oil consumption.

Data from Marine Tracker reveals a severe drop in traffic through this trade artery, with numerous tankers forced to turn back or halted at the entrance of the strait. The European Union (EU) Naval Mission in the Red Sea confirmed that vessels have received radio messages from the IRGC declaring the strait blocked, despite no formal closure order being officially enacted.

Furthermore, the shipping association BIMCO warned that commercial vessels with ties to Israel or the United States face the highest risk of being targeted.

The disruption extends beyond the sea; airlines continued to suspend flights over much of the Middle East on Sunday. Simultaneously, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporters in Tehran reported hearing the sounds of fresh airstrikes hitting the Iranian capital.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Daily Sabah)

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