DUBAI (Azat TV) – A critical maritime crisis has gripped the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding Gulf waters, where over 150 crude and LNG tankers, alongside approximately 170 containerships, have either dropped anchor or reversed course. This unprecedented gridlock follows recent military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran, which were met with retaliatory strikes from Tehran, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East and disrupting global energy and trade routes.
The stationary fleet of tankers is largely congregated off the coasts of major oil and gas-producing nations, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as reported by Reuters based on MarineTraffic data. Many of these vessels are positioned within the exclusive economic zones of regional powers like Kuwait and the UAE, signaling a profound pause in the region’s typically bustling shipping activities.
Escalating Maritime Disruption in Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint, serves as the conduit for 20% of the world’s oil and a substantial portion of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas exports. While shipping activities through the strait have unofficially ceased, recognized maritime authorities had not formally suspended passage as of March 1, 2026. However, warnings of heightened naval oversight and extreme market volatility were issued, with Hapag-Lloyd later citing an ‘official closure by relevant authorities.’
According to Linerlytica co-founder Hua Joo Tan, roughly 170 containerships, representing about 1.4% of the global fleet, were inside the Strait of Hormuz and facing restrictions on exiting. At least 15 containerships reversed course, either turning back from entering or exiting the strait, with most either stopping or diverting their routes entirely.
Major Shipping Lines Suspend Operations
In response to the escalating security situation, several of the world’s largest shipping companies have formally announced suspensions of transits. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM have all issued advisories. CMA CGM, the third-largest shipping line globally, ordered all its vessels in or en route to the Middle East Gulf to ‘take shelter’ immediately and suspended all Suez Canal transits until further notice.
Hapag-Lloyd specifically announced the suspension of all vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz, citing its ‘official closure by relevant authorities amid the evolving security situation.’ This has prompted carriers to omit calls at Middle East Gulf ports on east-west services, instead dropping cargo at alternative ports for onward transportation by road, as explained by Peter Sand, chief analyst at freight intelligence platform Xeneta. The implications extend to plans for returning container shipping to the Red Sea, which had been shelved after earlier attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militia led to rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope.
Broader Regional Impact and Vessel Attacks
The instability has not been confined to the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate direct attacks on vessels, including an oil tanker registered under the Marshall Islands, named MKD VYOM, which was reportedly struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman on March 1. The incident occurred approximately 44.4 nautical miles northwest of Muscat, though the exact cause and consequences, including potential oil spills, remained unclear.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) reported an unidentified projectile attack on a vessel navigating international waters north of Oman’s capital, Muscat, on the same day. The ensuing blaze in the vessel’s engine room was contained. This marked the second maritime incident reported by UKMTO that day, following an earlier report near Kumzar in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ports across the region have also experienced significant disruption. Kuwait’s port of Shuaiba completely suspended operations and evacuated vessels. Bahrain suspended operations at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, and Qatar’s Ministry of Transport temporarily halted all maritime navigation. In the UAE, Dubai authorities confirmed a fire at a berth at Jebel Ali caused by debris from an aerial interception, though the port remained open for vessel calls. Adding to the complex security landscape, Houthi forces in Yemen have reportedly decided to resume attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, further complicating maritime routes for global trade.
The widespread disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters underscores the profound vulnerability of global supply chains and energy security to geopolitical instability in the Middle East. The ‘weaponization of trade’ through maritime blockades and attacks, as noted by analysts, signals a new phase of economic warfare that could have lasting repercussions on international commerce and energy prices.