Iran-Israel-US war: Ships asked to bypass West Asia ports

New Delhi | Mumbai: As the US-Israeli offensive on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US allies in the region enter its second day, the government has asked Indian-flagged ships to remain anchored at sea and avoid calling at West Asian ports, officials said.

It was stated that approximately 25 ships in the Persian Gulf region were monitored in coordination with the Indian Navy.

Domestic ports are offering additional holding space for stranded cargo that cannot reach West Asian destinations due to ongoing conflicts. “We have told them to stay away from ports in the region and not try to cross the Strait of Hormuz,” a senior government official told ET on condition of anonymity. In a notice to customers, DP World said it had suspended operations at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port “as a temporary measure”. MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company also said it has suspended all bookings for worldwide cargoes to the Middle East region until further notice.
In its statement, Maersk said that all voyages on US services from the Middle East-India to the Mediterranean and from the Middle East-India to the East Coast will be routed around the Cape of Good Hope. Container shipping company CMA CGM said in an advisory that ships within and heading towards the Gulf were instructed to proceed to shelters immediately. It also said, “Passage through the Suez Canal has been suspended until further notice and ships will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope.” The Iranian Navy declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where ships are not allowed to pass through one of the busiest waterways in the world.