Operational Advisory – 4 March 2026
Issue Date: 4 March 2026
Operational Status: Ongoing disruption to Middle East ocean and air freight corridors
Next Update: To follow as the situation develops
This advisory reflects the latest available operational information as of 4 March 2026 and may change rapidly as the situation evolves.
Overview
Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran beginning 28 February 2026 are disrupting both global ocean freight and air cargo operations.
Security concerns around key transport corridors, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea / Suez Canal routes, have forced carriers and airlines to suspend services, reroute vessels, and restrict cargo movements.
The situation remains highly fluid and continues to evolve.
Executive Summary (Status as of 4 March 2026)
Container shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively halted, with large clusters of vessels anchored at both ends of the passage awaiting safe transit.
Ocean carriers are rerouting services via the Cape of Good Hope, adding approximately 10–14 days to certain Asia–Europe and Asia–Middle East routes.
Airspace closures across the Middle East have reduced global air cargo capacity by approximately 18%, with some Asia–Middle East–Europe routes experiencing reductions exceeding 40% week-on-week.
Emergency conflict and war risk surcharges are being introduced across affected trades.
Global supply chains are expected to face delays, congestion, capacity shortages and rising freight costs.
Ocean Freight Situation – 4 March
Container shipping services across the Middle East continue to face significant disruption.
Current carrier actions include:
- Suspension of new bookings into the Persian Gulf
- Restrictions on certain cargo types, including reefer containers
- Temporary bypass of Gulf services
- Discharging cargo at alternative transshipment hubs
Large clusters of vessels remain anchored near the Strait of Hormuz awaiting safe passage.
Carrier Advisory – MSC “End of Voyage” Declaration
MSC has issued an operational advisory declaring an “End of Voyage” for all cargo currently in its custody that is destined for the Persian Gulf region.
This applies to cargo already at sea as well as cargo still on land awaiting loading.
Key implications include:
End of Voyage Declaration
MSC has formally terminated the contractual voyage for all Persian Gulf-bound cargo due to the current security situation.
Alternative Discharge Ports
Affected containers will be discharged at the next available safe port, rather than their originally scheduled destination.
Shift of Responsibility to Shippers
Once cargo is discharged at the alternate port:
- Responsibility for the cargo transfers back to the shipper / cargo owner
- Shippers must arrange onward transportation
- Shippers will also be responsible for local port charges, storage, and handling fees
Deviation Surcharge
MSC is applying a mandatory deviation surcharge of USD $800 per container to cover the operational cost of rerouting vessels away from the Gulf.
This surcharge applies to all cargo affected by the route deviation.
Operational Implications
This development indicates that some carriers are now formally terminating Gulf voyages rather than waiting for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.
As a result:
- Cargo may be discharged outside the Persian Gulf
- Shippers may need to arrange feeder vessels, alternative routing, or overland transport
- Additional port costs, handling charges, and storage fees may apply
This represents a significant operational shift and may impact delivery timelines and landed cost calculations.
Carrier Network Adjustments
Major container lines have implemented network changes to mitigate operational risk.
Key actions include:
- Suspension of Strait of Hormuz sailings by several major carriers
- Rerouting of services via the Cape of Good Hope
- Temporary suspension of some Gulf port calls
- Discharging cargo at regional hubs for feeder vessel transport
Alternative hubs currently handling diverted cargo include:
- Salalah (Oman)
- Khor Fakkan (UAE)
- Sohar (Oman)
- Duqm (Oman)
- Colombo (Sri Lanka)
These changes are adding approximately 10–14 days to transit times and reducing effective global container capacity.
Port and Vessel Situation (4 March Snapshot)
Current maritime data indicates:
- Approximately 140–170 container vessels currently sheltering inside the Persian Gulf
- Estimated 156,000 – 470,000 TEU of capacity trapped in the region
- Roughly 0.6% – 1.4% of global container capacity temporarily unavailable
More than 700 vessels of various types are reportedly waiting near the Strait of Hormuz.
Secondary congestion risks are expected at major Asian transshipment hubs including:
- Singapore
- Tanjung Pelepas
- Port Klang
Port Operations Status – 4 March 2026
Latest operational reports indicate that most Gulf port infrastructure remains operational, although vessel access remains restricted due to security concerns.
United Arab Emirates
All major UAE ports remain open:
- Jebel Ali
- Sharjah
- Abu Dhabi
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Ajman
- Khor Fakkan
Saudi Arabia
- Dammam – Open
- Jubail – Open
Qatar
- Doha – Open
- Qatalum – Open
- Qapco – Open
- Qchem – Open
Kuwait
- Shuwaik – Open
- Shuaiba – Partially resumed
Iraq
- Umm Qasr – Open
Oman
- Duqm – Open
- Sohar – Open
- Salalah – Suspended
Bahrain
- Bahrain Port – Suspended
Despite most Gulf ports remaining operational, vessel access and carrier services remain constrained due to maritime security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz.
Air Freight Situation – 4 March
Regional airspace closures beginning 28 February grounded large numbers of flights across the Middle East, immediately reducing global air cargo capacity.
Many airline suspensions have been extended into early March, with further extensions possible depending on security conditions.
Airline Operational Status
Current airline updates include:
Emirates SkyCargo
Limited resumption of flights from 2 March to clear shipment backlogs. New bookings remain restricted.
Qatar Airways Cargo
Operations temporarily suspended until Qatari airspace reopens.
Etihad Cargo
Commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi cancelled until at least 5 March, with limited cargo or repatriation flights potentially operating.
Oman Air Cargo
Rescheduling shipments and adding capacity on selected international routes where possible.
Airport and Airspace Restrictions
Airspace closures or restrictions have affected multiple countries including:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Saudi Arabia
Major airports including Dubai International Airport and Hamad International Airport have reported temporary suspensions or partial resumptions of operations.
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Air cargo analytics firms report significant disruption:
- Global cargo capacity down approximately 18%
- Asia–Middle East–Europe routes down more than 40% week-on-week
Freight forwarders are warning of:
- Shipment delays
- Airport congestion
- Increased freight rates
- Higher risk exposure for perishables and pharmaceuticals
Freight Rate and Surcharge Impact
Carriers have begun introducing emergency conflict and war risk surcharges across affected routes.
In addition:
- Oil prices have increased approximately 8–13%
- Higher bunker fuel costs will likely drive fuel adjustment factor (BAF) increases
Customers should prepare for:
- Rising base freight rates
- Emergency security surcharges
- Additional feeder and transshipment costs
- Extended working capital cycles due to longer transit times
Escalation Developments
Recent incidents impacting maritime security include:
- The US-flagged tanker Stena Imperative struck by projectiles while docked in Bahrain, causing a fire
- Drone strikes on the port of Duqm (Oman) damaging fuel infrastructure
- A missile strike on a British airbase in Cyprus, with additional drone activity intercepted
These incidents have increased security concerns across both the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.
What This Means for Shippers This Week
Businesses moving cargo through the Middle East or via adjacent trade lanes should anticipate:
- Extended ocean transit times due to Cape of Good Hope rerouting
- Limited vessel capacity into Gulf ports
- Reduced air cargo availability
- Higher freight rates and surcharges
- Possible congestion at transshipment hubs
Supply chains dependent on time-sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals or perishables may experience heightened disruption risk.
Recommended Actions for Shippers
To minimise disruption, we recommend customers:
- Build additional schedule flexibility for potential 10–14+ day ocean delays
- Model potential surcharge and freight cost increases
- Closely track in-transit shipments and maintain communication with logistics providers
- Evaluate alternative routing or air freight options where time-sensitive cargo is involved
- Consider inventory pre-positioning to reduce supply chain exposure
Forward Outlook – Status as of 4 March 2026
The situation remains volatile with no confirmed timeline for operational normalisation.
Current context:
- Day 835 of the Red Sea shipping disruption
- Day 4+ of the Strait of Hormuz crisis
If disruptions persist, the industry may experience:
- Sustained freight rate escalation
- Expanded war-risk premiums
- Equipment imbalances
- Ongoing schedule reliability deterioration
Global supply chains should prepare for continued disruption while the security situation develops.