Maersk, a leading global container shipping company, announced on Friday the temporary suspension of two key services connecting the Middle East with Asia and Europe due to ongoing disruptions caused by the Iran conflict. The Danish firm will halt its FM1 service, which links the Far East to the Middle East, and the ME11 service, which connects the Middle East to Europe.
This precautionary measure aims to safeguard personnel and vessels while minimizing operational disruptions across Maersk’s broader network. The decision comes amid escalating tensions in the region following significant U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, including an operation that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The crisis has led to 147 container ships seeking shelter in the Gulf, resulting in port congestion and rising freight rates that are affecting global supply chains from Asia to Europe, as reported by freight analytics firm Xeneta.
