05 January 2024 – Update 07On 2nd January 2024, A.P. Moller – Maersk announced that it would pause all vessels bound for the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden in light of the recent incident involving Maersk Hangzhou and ongoing developments in the area. The situation is constantly evolving and remains highly volatile, and all available intelligence at hand confirms that the security risk continues to be at a significantly elevated level. We have therefore decided that all Maersk vessels due to transit the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden will be diverted south around the Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future. We understand the potential impact this will have on your logistics operations, but please rest assured that all decisions have been carefully considered and ultimately prioritise the safety of our vessels, seafarers and your cargo. By suspending voyages through the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden, we hope to bring our customers more consistency and predictability despite the associated delays that come with the re-routing. While we continue to hope for a sustainable resolution in the near-future and do all we can to contribute towards it, we do encourage customers to prepare for complications in the area to persist and for there to be significant disruption to the global network. Our teams are on hand to support with your planning, should you need any assistance. Vessel contingencies will continue to be communicated with customers on a case-by-case basis. Please also continue to visit our online tracker, which will be updated with the latest scheduling information as soon as it becomes available. The previously announced Transit Disruption Surcharge (TDS), Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) and Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) for all cargo on vessels affected by the disruptions around the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden remain in effect. Please click here for more information on exports from Far East Asia, or click here for exports from all other locations. We greatly appreciate your trust, loyalty and understanding as we work through these challenging circumstances. Should you have any questions or wish to discuss options for your cargo, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Maersk representative. |
02 January 2024 – Update 06Following the 30 December incident involving our vessel, Maersk Hangzhou, we have decided to pause all transits through the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden until further notice. An investigation into the incident is ongoing and we will continue to pause all cargo movement through the area while we further assess the constantly evolving situation. In cases where it makes most sense for our customers, vessels will be rerouted and continue their journey around the Cape of Good Hope. The latest information is available on our diversion and contingency plans page. We remain committed to minimising the impact on our customers’ supply chains and will continue to keep you updated on the situation. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the options for your cargo, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Maersk representative. |
31 December 2023 – Update 05Following an incident involving one of our vessels, the A.P. Moller – Maersk group (Maersk) has today decided to pause all transits through the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden until 2 January. The vessel in question is the Maersk Hangzhou. On December 30, at approximately 18:00 CET, it was hit by an unknown object after passing through the Bab al- Mandab Strait en route from Singapore to Port Suez, Egypt. There was no indication of a fire on board and the vessel was able to continue its transit north. After the initial attack, four boats approached Maersk Hangzhou and opened fire in an attempt to board the vessel. Maersk Hangzhou’s security team, along with a helicopter deployed from a nearby navy vessel, successfully thwarted the attempt. The crew of the Maersk Hangzhou is reported to be safe. The safety of our crew is our utmost priority and all necessary security measures have been implemented to protect them. The crew will also receive all the support they need from Maersk. As shared in our update on 29 December, Maersk Hangzhou was among the first vessels to go through the Red Sea again following confirmation that the multinational security initiatives, Operation Prosperity Guardia (OPG), had been deployed in the area. Maersk is currently working to ascertain the full details of the incident involving Maersk Hangzhou. We are in close dialogue with the OPG naval operation and authorities to assess the security level in the area and any potential impact to our voyage plans. We expect to provide our customers with an update and more information on 2 January 2024 at the latest. |
