At least one major shipping line is offering free extended storage time for containers diverted in the Persian Gulf – but charging shippers for the accommodation.
At the same time, nations have rejected President Donald Trump’s demand for shipping escorts while China, France and India are reportedly negotiating with Iran to get trapped vessels out of the region and safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
Hapag-Lloyd in an advisory said it’s giving Gulf shippers an extra 10 days’ free time if they have to return diverted empty containers via truck – for a flat fee of $25.
Maersk (MAERSK-B.CO), partner with Hapag-Lloyd in the Gemini Cooperation, suspended the return of empties to Gulf countries. Importers are required to return empties to Salalah and Sohar in Oman or Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. There are exceptions – for a charge of as much as $3,000 per box.
A number of nations including Australia, Germany, Greece, Japan, Italy and Spain have rejected Trump’s demand that they send naval vessels to escort ships through the Strait of Homuz, the 20-mile wide waterway that guards entry and exit to the Persian Gulf. The Iran conflict has stalled tanker traffic that carries 20% of all crude oil to global markets.
“Europe has no interest in an open-ended war,” European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas told reporters. “There was no appetite in changing the mandate of the [Red Sea] Operation Aspides for now. This is not Europe’s war, but Europe’s interests are directly at stake.”
The International Maritime Organization is meeting March 18-19 to discuss the situation. It said the war has trapped 20,000 mariners, cruise passengers and maritime workers in the Gulf.
For more coverage by Stuart Chirls, see the archive here.
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