Maersk alerted customers that it is temporarily pausing its return to the Suez-Red Sea corridor. Citing “unforeseen constraints” in the operating environment and the risk of passage delays, the carrier is diverting two major routes back around the Cape of Good Hope.
The sudden rerouting applies to sailings scheduled through mid March. Maersk noted that updated transport plans will be distributed shortly so shippers can adjust their supply chains.
- MECL Service (Independent): This route connects Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to the U.S. East Coast. The next three eastbound and three westbound sailings will divert around Africa.
- ME11 Service (Gemini Cooperation): This route connects India and the Middle East to the Mediterranean. The next three westbound and four eastbound sailings are being diverted.
This reversal comes just two weeks after a Maersk vessel successfully completed the first eastbound transit of the reinstated ME11 route. Maersk had previously stressed that its return to the Red Sea was strictly dependent on naval escorts and regional stability.
While the European Council recently extended its protection mission, Operation Aspides, through February 2027, the operation currently only has three warships available to provide escorts. In the past, carriers like CMA CGM have cited significant schedule delays while waiting for these limited naval assets to become available for convoy protection.
The Suez Canal Authority has been eager to encourage the return of commercial traffic. While Houthi forces have not attacked a merchant ship since last September, the operating environment remains volatile. A recent U.S. naval buildup in the Middle East and rising tensions with Iran continue to complicate the security landscape for global supply chains.