Cosco Shipping Lines resumes general cargo bookings to seven Middle East nations, following Iran's assurance of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Chinese shipping giant Cosco Shipping Lines has resumed new bookings for general cargo containers from the Far East to seven Middle Eastern countries, reports Denmark's Shipping Telegraph.
The company announced that bookings are now open for shipments to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Oman via multi-modal transport. However, the advisory warned that arrangements remain subject to change given the volatile regional situation.
Cosco clarified that bookings already accepted before the March 25 advisory will not be affected. Customers are urged to contact Cosco or local agents for details on freight charges and carriage terms.
Transport solutions include using the Bonded Land Bridge via Khorfakkan or Fujairah Port for cargo bound for Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali, with feeder links to upper Gulf states. Cargo destined for Oman will be transshipped via Nhava Sheva, India, to Sohar.
Cosco had halted new bookings three weeks ago after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to most traffic. The resumption follows Tehran's statement that vessels from non-belligerent nations may pass through the waterway.
Iran informed the UN maritime agency that ships not linked to the US or Israel qualify as 'non-hostile' and may benefit from safe passage. This development comes amid heightened tensions stemming from the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has disrupted global energy flows.
