Feature, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Iran has Container Carriers Scared Strait

[ March 13, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Major container shipping lines are imposing emergency surcharges, restricting bookings and rerouting vessels as Iran’s threat to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz sends shockwaves through global energy and shipping markets.

The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, serving as the only sea gateway to the Persian Gulf and carrying roughly one fifth of global oil shipments along with large volumes of containerized cargo moving between the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America.

Shipping companies say escalating military tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel have forced them to quickly adjust operations to protect vessels and crews while maintaining cargo flows to Gulf markets.

Several of the world’s largest container carriers have introduced emergency surcharges or other contingency measures tied to the crisis.

France-based CMA CGM implemented an emergency conflict surcharge of about US$2,000 per 20-foot container and US$3,000 per 40-foot container on cargo moving to Gulf destinations, with higher fees on specialized equipment such as refrigerated containers.

Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd imposed a war-risk surcharge of roughly US$1,500 per container on shipments bound for ports in the region while limiting bookings on some routes.

Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk said it has rerouted some vessels and introduced emergency surcharges tied to higher fuel costs, security risks and rising insurance premiums.

Mediterranean Shipping Co., the world’s largest container carrier, has suspended bookings to some Gulf ports as vessels already in the region seek safer operating conditions.

Japan-based Ocean Network Express introduced operational changes affecting container logistics, including new rules governing where empty containers can be returned and additional drop-off charges when equipment is not delivered to designated depots.

Industry analysts say the rapid wave of surcharges reflects the sudden rise in operational costs as carriers navigate a volatile security environment in one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.

“The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global trade,” said analysts at shipping consultancy Drewry. “Any disruption there immediately translates into higher costs for carriers and shippers.”

Shipping Traffic Drops Sharply

Ship-tracking data indicates traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply following the escalation, with many vessels delaying entry into the Persian Gulf or diverting to alternative ports in the region.

Some ships have anchored outside the strait while operators wait for security conditions to improve, creating a queue of vessels that analysts say could take weeks to clear once normal navigation resumes.

For container carriers, the crisis compounds earlier disruptions affecting global shipping networks.

Over the past two years, many shipping lines have already rerouted Asia-Europe services around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to avoid attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.

With the Strait of Hormuz now under threat as well, the global container network faces another layer of uncertainty.

Insurance Costs Surge

One of the most immediate cost pressures for ship operators has been maritime insurance.

War-risk premiums for vessels operating in or near the Persian Gulf have surged, in some cases increasing severalfold within days as insurers reassess the threat level.

Without adequate insurance coverage, shipowners often cannot legally send vessels into high-risk areas, forcing carriers to suspend services or reroute ships even when cargo demand remains strong.

Analysts say those costs are ultimately passed along to cargo owners through surcharges and higher freight rates.

“The insurance market reacts extremely quickly to geopolitical risk,” said a maritime insurance specialist at London-based brokerage Marsh McLennan. “When threats escalate in a chokepoint like Hormuz, premiums can spike almost overnight.”

Impact on Energy Markets

The shipping disruption has also rippled through global energy markets.

Crude oil prices climbed above US$100 per barrel as traders assessed the risk that Iranian military action could block or severely restrict shipping through the strait.

Energy analysts say even partial disruption of tanker flows can have outsized effects because the strait handles such a large share of global oil exports from countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

While some Gulf producers have pipelines that bypass the strait, those systems cannot fully replace the capacity of maritime exports.

“If Hormuz were closed for a sustained period, the impact on global energy supply would be immediate,” analysts at consultancy Rystad Energy said in a market briefing.

Supply Chains Watch Closely

For global supply chains, the situation remains fluid.

The Middle East is not the largest container shipping market, but it serves as an important hub for energy, petrochemicals and regional trade.

Disruptions there can ripple through shipping schedules and container availability worldwide.

Logistics analysts say the biggest risk is that the conflict could widen or drag on for months, forcing carriers to maintain expensive contingency measures.

“If the security situation stabilizes quickly, carriers can resume normal operations,” said Peter Sand, chief analyst at maritime research firm Xeneta. “But if tensions remain high, we could see sustained surcharges and reduced capacity on Gulf routes.”

For now, most shipping companies say they will continue monitoring the situation while maintaining safety precautions.

“The safety of our crews and vessels remains our top priority,” several carriers said in customer advisories.

Industry observers say the crisis highlights how vulnerable global trade remains to disruptions at key maritime chokepoints.

With tensions still high, shipping companies and cargo owners alike are preparing for a prolonged period of uncertainty in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

Tags: A.P. Mollert - Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC