COPENHAGEN — Global shipping giant Maersk announced Friday it is temporarily shutting down two major shipping routes that connect the Middle East with Asia and Europe as ongoing regional conflicts continue to disrupt international trade networks.
The Copenhagen-based company, which ranks among the world’s largest container shipping operators, revealed it will pause operations on its FM1 route that serves the Far East to Middle East corridor and its ME11 route that links the Middle East with European markets.
“This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our personnel and vessels while minimizing operational disruption across our wider network,” Maersk said in an advisory to customers.
Regional instability has intensified dramatically following weekend military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran, described as their most significant strikes against the country in decades. The attacks resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The ongoing crisis has forced 147 container vessels to seek shelter in Gulf waters, creating bottlenecks at ports and driving up shipping costs that are affecting supply chains spanning from Asia to Europe, according to maritime data company Xeneta.
