Khor Fakkan

Shipping Arabia, October 19, 2026 – Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced the relaunch of the FM1 container shipping service under their Gemini Cooperation network, strengthening maritime connectivity between Asia and the Middle East. The service will provide additional direct ocean connections to Khor Fakkan, supporting shipping customers and regional cargo movements.

The announcement follows Maersk’s decision to restore the FM1 service with a revised port rotation covering major Asian ports and Khor Fakkan. The shipping line confirmed the first scheduled sailing and outlined the operational arrangements that will apply to the relaunched service.

FM1 Service Relaunch: Port Rotation and First Sailing

The relaunched FM1 service will operate the following port rotation:

Qingdao – Ningbo – Tanjung Pelepas – Khor Fakkan – Singapore – Qingdao.

According to Maersk, the first sailing will be operated by MAERSK ATHABASCA, voyage 642W. The vessel was scheduled to depart Qingdao on October 17, 2026, with an expected arrival at Khor Fakkan on November 16, 2026.

The FM1 service relaunch will provide customers with additional direct ocean connectivity to Khor Fakkan, strengthening transport options between Asian markets and the Middle East.

Maersk said it will continue operating across the Middle East while maintaining the necessary precautions. The company also confirmed that existing booking restrictions and cargo acceptance guidelines will remain applicable to the relaunched service.

Inland Logistics Solutions to Support Upper Gulf Connectivity

Alongside the restoration of FM1 ocean services, Maersk will continue using its existing inland logistics solutions to support cargo movements beyond the service’s direct port connections.

These landside transport arrangements will complement the relaunched service and enable the shipping line to maintain its ability to serve customers in the Upper Gulf region.

The combination of direct ocean connectivity to Khor Fakkan and Maersk’s existing inland solutions forms part of the operational arrangements supporting the FM1 service relaunch.

Gemini Cooperation Maintains Security Monitoring

Despite the relaunch, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd emphasized that they will continue closely monitoring the security situation across the Middle East.

The two shipping lines confirmed that any further adjustments to services operating under the Gemini Cooperation network will depend on developments in the region.

Maersk also reaffirmed that the safety of vessel crews, ships, and customers’ cargo remains its highest priority. The company said it remains committed to supporting customers’ supply chains while maintaining the necessary operational precautions.

The FM1 service relaunch therefore proceeds alongside existing booking and cargo acceptance measures, with both carriers retaining flexibility to adjust their Gemini Cooperation services in response to regional security developments.

Source: Al Mal News

Shipping Arabia, October 6, 2026 – Container transport and related logistics costs serving the UAE and Gulf markets have risen by around three to five times, or 300% to 500%, following disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UAE’s National Shipping and Logistics Committee. The committee stressed that the increase does not reflect a similar rise in basic ocean freight rates alone, but rather the accumulation of additional costs across disrupted transport chains.

Ahmed Abdul Razak, deputy chairman of the National Shipping and Logistics Committee and general manager of Maltrans Emirates, said it remains difficult to establish a uniform container transport rate after the problems affecting the Strait of Hormuz. Costs vary depending on the shipping line, port, routing and the way cargo ultimately reaches its destination.

Alternative routings reshape Gulf cargo flows

Disruption to maritime corridors has forced some cargo bound for Gulf markets onto alternative routings. While some containers continue to arrive directly at their intended ports, others are being discharged at intermediate ports before completing their journeys by sea or road.

Abdul Razak said cargo has reached ports including Khor Fakkan and Fujairah in the UAE, as well as Sohar and Salalah in Oman. Some of these containers were then transported overland to UAE ports and destinations, including Jebel Ali.

He said the UAE’s logistics infrastructure and its developed network of ports and roads have helped the country manage the disruption and redirect cargo arriving through different gateways.

Shipping lines have also activated provisions allowing cargo to be discharged at the nearest available port when problems affect normal maritime routes. As a result, some vessels have discharged containers in Oman before the cargo subsequently moved through Fujairah or Khor Fakkan and onward to its final destination.

Additional charges drive 300–500% cost increase

According to Abdul Razak, the overall cost of container transport has increased by between three and five times during the recent period. However, he emphasized that this does not mean basic ocean freight itself has risen by the same percentage.

Instead, the final cost reflects the accumulation of multiple charges associated with longer or more complex transport arrangements. These include war risk surcharges, conflict-related emergency charges and emergency fuel surcharges, which vary from one carrier to another.

Inland transport costs have also risen significantly. Additional customs clearance charges and higher fuel expenses have further increased the total cost of moving containers when cargo must be redirected through alternative ports or transferred between sea and road transport.

Longer routings and transshipment operations have also contributed to higher fuel consumption, adding further cost to the container transport chain.

Gulf shipping capacity remains tight

The increase in UAE container transport costs is also linked to reduced shipping capacity available for Gulf-bound cargo.

Abdul Razak said the challenge is not limited to price levels but also involves the availability of space aboard vessels. Some sailings have reached full capacity, while other voyages have been canceled.

He added that cargo bookings being rolled to later sailings have become common on some services, further complicating transport planning.

Costs also differ between Gulf ports because of variations in routing, port choice and the method used to complete container movements. As a result, the final cost can vary considerably from one shipment to another.

Abdul Razak said shipping costs have not yet declined and remain at peak levels. He added that a return of maritime routes to normal conditions would help reduce both shipping costs and associated logistics expenses, particularly those generated by alternative routing and additional charges.

UAE infrastructure supports cargo continuity

Despite the disruption, Abdul Razak said essential goods remain available in the UAE.

He said authorities have prioritized customs clearance for essential materials, helping maintain their availability in the domestic market.

The disruption has also not forced all cargo onto a single alternative corridor. Instead, shipping companies and carriers have used multiple options, including different Gulf ports, short-sea transport and road transport.

According to Abdul Razak, the UAE’s logistics infrastructure, together with its road and port network, has supported the movement of containers arriving through different ports and allowed them to continue to their final destinations.

Source: Emarat Al Youm

Shipping Arabia, September 26, 2026 – Maersk has introduced emergency freight surcharges on container shipments affected by disruptions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, with total additional costs potentially reaching $4,800 per container depending on cargo type and whether the shipment moves aboard a vessel transiting the strait.

The measures cover shipments loaded from or destined for ports in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE. They also apply to Dammam and Jubail in Saudi Arabia and ports in Oman, excluding Salalah.

Maersk has set the emergency surcharge at $1,800 for a 20-foot dry container and $3,000 for a 40-foot dry container. Refrigerated containers, as well as equipment carrying special or dangerous cargo, will face a higher charge of $3,800 per container.

Additional Charge Applies to Hormuz Transits

Cargo moving aboard vessels that transit the Strait of Hormuz will be subject to an additional $1,000 per container. According to Maersk, the charge is intended to cover higher insurance premiums and crew risk compensation associated with operating through the affected area.

When combined with the $3,800 emergency surcharge for refrigerated, special or dangerous cargo, the additional Hormuz transit charge can bring total extra costs to $4,800 per container.

Maersk said the emergency freight surcharges also cover a wider range of expenses created by the disruption. These include alternative routings, storage costs, additional transportation and the movement of cargo from temporary storage locations to final destinations once onward transport can be carried out safely.

Alternative Routes Used for Upper Gulf Cargo

The carrier is also using alternative routings for shipments serving several Upper Gulf markets. Cargo moving to or from Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE is being routed through Salalah and Khor Fakkan.

Saudi Arabian import and export cargo will continue to move through Jeddah. The alternative arrangements form part of Maersk’s response to the disruption affecting normal cargo movements in the region.

The emergency measures therefore combine additional charges with changes to cargo routing as the carrier manages shipments serving markets around the Strait of Hormuz.

Booking Restrictions Remain in Place

Maersk has also maintained booking restrictions across parts of the affected region. The carrier is applying tighter limitations to refrigerated cargo, dangerous goods, out-of-gauge shipments and other specialized cargo.

At the same time, Maersk said particular attention will be given to essential food supplies, medicines and other perishable goods. These cargo types remain a priority as the carrier manages capacity and operational restrictions linked to the disruption.

The emergency surcharges, alternative routings and booking restrictions remain part of Maersk’s measures for handling cargo flows affected by conditions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: Al-Mal