Maersk imposes emergency freight rates of up to US$4,800 per container due to Hormuz disruption
The company is prioritizing the transport of essential goods, including food and medicine.
GLOBAL – Maersk has introduced emergency freight rates for container cargo affected by disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, with some shipments facing additional charges of up to US$4,800 per container, according to the company advisory.
The charges apply to cargo loaded from or destined for ports in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as to Dammam and Jubail in Saudi Arabia and to ports in Oman, excluding Salalah.
The Emergency Freight Rate is US$1,800 per 20-foot dry container and US$3,000 per 40-foot dry container.
Reefer, special, and dangerous-goods containers are subject to a US$3,800 charge per container. Meanwhile, vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz incur an additional US$1,000 per container.
Cost coverage and routing
Maersk said the rates cover costs associated with alternative routing, storage, additional charters, and transport from temporary storage locations to final destinations.
For instance, the US$1,000 Hormuz transit charge covers higher insurance premiums and crew risk compensation. The rates may be adjusted as conditions develop.
Cargo booked for Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE will pass through Salalah and Khor Fakkan before travelling by landbridge to Sharjah, where it will connect with Maersk’s intra-Gulf feeder network.
Saudi import and export cargo will continue to move through Jeddah. Maersk has established this landbridge system to maintain cargo flow into affected regions.
Booking restrictions and cargo priorities
Dry cargo bookings to and from UAE, Iraq, Dammam, and Jubail are suspended except for specific arrangements involving Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali.
Bookings continue to be accepted for Jeddah, King Abdullah Port, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Salalah, and Sohar.
The company is prioritizing the transport of essential goods, including food and medicine.
Empty container flows
The disruption is also affecting empty-container flows, with temporary return arrangements introduced for several Upper Gulf markets, including designated return locations in Salalah and Jeddah.
Effective immediately and until further notice, empty containers from import shipments into the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (Jubail), Iraq and Oman (Duqm) will no longer be accepted at the usual return locations.
Drop-off charges apply at other locations, ranging from free returns in Bahrain and Aqaba to US$2,055 for a 20-foot container in Ajman.
The company said it will continue to monitor the situation and adjust rates and routing as conditions evolve.
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