MSC has announced that all cargo destined for ports in the Gulf will be offloaded at the nearest safe seaport due to ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
According to Reuters, this “End of Voyage” declaration also affects empty containers released for export to the Gulf. MSC will impose a mandatory $800 per container surcharge to cover the costs of rerouting, and customers will be responsible for managing their cargo at the new discharge ports, including arranging transport and paying local fees.
The escalation in the region has led to significant vessel congestion, including oil tankers and container ships, at the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about global fuel price spikes.
MSC and Ocean Network Express have temporarily stopped accepting cargo for these areas, while experts warn that the disruptions could cascade through global supply chains for weeks, Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, analysts note that rerouting ships, containers, and other assets will create logistical challenges, reinforcing the vulnerability of global maritime trade to regional conflicts.
