On January 2 2024, A.P. Moller–Meersk announced that it would break all ships bound for the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden, considering 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 confirms that the security risk continues to be significantly elevated. We have, therefore, decided that all Maersk vessels due to transit to 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. Still, please rest assured that all decisions have been carefully considered and ultimately prioritize 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 with 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 encourage customers to prepare for complications in the area to persist and for significant disruption to the global network. Our teams are on hand to support 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.

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 contact your local Maersk representative.