The OCEANAIR Current

It has been a tough weekend, as the situation in the Middle East escalated rapidly and unexpectedly Friday night into Saturday morning. The conflict is going to have ripple effects across international supply chains.

With multiple countries affected, we are seeing flight cancellations to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and several airports within the United Arab Emirates. Because the situation is still evolving, we cannot be certain when flights may resume. Cargo that is already in transit to any of these areas will be held at its current location. Due to the significant impact this is causing on capacity out of the U.S., we anticipate cargo delays extending to other destinations around the world.

Additionally, ocean carriers have started to suspend bookings to the Middle East region as the U.S. established a maritime warning zone covering the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, and Strait of Hormuz, advising that naval forces could not guarantee the safety of commercial vessels. Major carriers, including CMA CGM and Maersk, have suspended Red Sea transits, rerouted vessels around southern Africa, and imposed emergency surcharges to offset rising operational risks. Notifications have also been received regarding the implementation of a War Risk Surcharge (WRS) for cargo to and from the Upper Gulf, Arabian Gulf, and Persian Gulf. The situation is impacting shipping schedules and will ultimately affect equipment supply.

We are reviewing all shipments currently in route that could be affected and will be contacting clients directly as needed.

Please keep in contact with your local OCEANAIR representatives with any questions or concerns that may arise. We will continue to monitor the situation with the carriers and keep you informed.