Print
PDF
Maersk adapts to challenging Gulf and Red Sea conditions
Trade and logistics flow across India, the Middle East and Africa are still being shaped by geopolitical uncertainty and issues in transiting key maritime corridors, alongside strong seasonal export demand and growing interest in more flexible inland and warehousing networks. According to leading container shipping line, Maersk, “Uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, variable vessel waiting times and high yard density at several regional ports continue to affect predictability.”
Maersk says it is responding by reconfiguring its networks, using alternative gateways, multimodal routing, greater focus on capacity planning and closer operational monitoring. Nonetheless in a recent statement it advised that, “Customers should continue to plan for variable lead times, provide early visibility of anticipated volumes, maintain routing flexibility and engage their Maersk representatives on the most suitable options as conditions evolve.”
The company has recently started transiting the Suez Canal on the AE15, MECL and WAF6 services. The Maersk statement also notes that, “Additional trans-Suez sailings may be considered if security thresholds continue to be met. However, this would not represent a full return of the East–West network to the trans-Suez corridor.”
For Maersk, Saudi Arabia’s western ports, particularly Jeddah and King Abdullah Port, remain important gateways for domestic cargo, as well as for increasing volumes moving to the wider Gulf via multimodal solutions. However, it says, sustained throughput and network adjustments are putting pressure on terminal yards, container depots, customs operations and trucking capacity. Consequently, it advises, “Customers may experience longer lead times, slower equipment turnaround and reduced schedule predictability, which could lead to increased costs across inland transport and security-related operations. Conditions are expected to remain operationally challenging in the near term, with continued pressure on western ports and the supporting logistics infrastructure.”
