HMM (011200) has suspended all cargo shipments to the Middle East as safety concerns mount in waters around the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
According to industry sources on the 11th, HMM notified customers that it is halting cargo transport to Middle East routes including the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, and East African waters. New bookings have also been temporarily suspended.
Cargo already in transit to the Middle East will be rerouted to alternative safe ports instead of following original routes. A surcharge of $1,000 per container will be applied to cover additional costs from the rerouting. The measure affects three container vessels currently operating on India-Middle East routes.
Cargo that has been booked but not yet loaded cannot be shipped under current conditions.
"The safety of vessels, crew, and cargo in the Middle East region cannot be guaranteed, making operations and new bookings impossible at this time," HMM said.
Global shipping companies have implemented similar measures amid Middle East tensions. MSC, Maersk, and CMA-CGM suspended shipments to the region earlier this month and are charging $2,000 to $3,000 as risk-related surcharges.
An HMM official said the company "will actively work to resume services to minimize customer inconvenience," adding that "operations outside the Middle East continue normally."
