Maersk has temporarily restricted bookings to Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and Upper Gulf ports due to regional disruptions and congestion.
Maersk has temporarily restricted bookings and adjusted cargo flows to Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and selected Upper Gulf destinations. The Copenhagen-based container shipping and integrated logistics group cited continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and congestion at regional ports. Under the revised arrangements, Maersk representatives will contact customers directly about affected bookings. Cargo already in transit remains subject to delays, and Maersk will accept new bookings only where capacity allows.
Maersk traces its origins to 1904 and is one of the world's largest container carriers. The move reflects a deliberate effort to protect schedule integrity and cargo flows in one of the world's most strategically important trade corridors. It also gives cargo owners clearer parameters for planning shipments while conditions remain fluid.
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. It is the sole maritime gateway for container traffic serving Upper Gulf markets. According to Maersk, continued disruption in the area, combined with congestion at regional ports, is affecting both cargo movement and delivery timelines.
Khor Fakkan and Fujairah sit on the United Arab Emirates' eastern seaboard along the Gulf of Oman, outside the strait itself. Their inclusion in the advisory shows that the strain extends beyond Hormuz to port operations across the wider region. In response, Maersk is adjusting how much cargo it accepts for these destinations and how it routes that cargo.
The carrier acknowledged the effect on its customers. In its advisory, the company said it regrets the disruption the changes will cause and committed to providing clarity on what the measures mean for cargo and shipment planning.
Maersk is not issuing blanket instructions for current bookings. Instead, its representatives will contact customers with affected bookings directly. They will share shipment-specific information and guidance on next steps, including alternative arrangements where applicable.
This case-by-case approach is designed to give shippers, importers, and their freight forwarding partners the detail needed to protect delivery commitments, manage inventory positions, and adjust downstream plans with greater confidence.
Cargo already moving toward the affected destinations remains subject to delays. Maersk representatives will provide the latest available status for each shipment.
The company has also committed to transparency where certainty is not yet possible. If Maersk cannot confirm a revised onward movement or delivery date, it will state this clearly in the shipment update. For cargo owners and buyers managing customer commitments, stock levels, and cash flow, this distinction between confirmed and unconfirmed timelines provides a more reliable basis for decisions than estimated dates that may later shift.
New bookings to Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and selected Upper Gulf destinations will be accepted based on available capacity. Maersk has specified that a revised booking should not be treated as automatically transferred to a later sailing. Shippers and forwarders should therefore not assume that cargo unable to move on a planned vessel will roll onto the next available departure.
Where feasible, Maersk teams will discuss alternative arrangements with customers, including expected timing and applicable costs. The carrier noted that these options remain subject to operational conditions and available capacity. Cost-sensitive cargo owners and importers focused on total landed cost will need to weigh these factors when planning shipments into the region.
Maersk describes the restrictions as temporary. The company will continue to review them as conditions evolve and will keep customers informed of relevant developments. Its teams remain focused on providing guidance and assessing available options to support customer supply chains during the disruption.
