Maersk Halts Haifa Port Calls, Citing Israel-Iran Safety Risks

Yahoo

5 hours ago

Maersk is temporarily pausing vessel calls and suspending cargo acceptance at Israel's Port of Haifa as the country's conflict with Iran drags out.
The ocean carrier made the decision late Thursday after analyzing threat risk reports, 'particularly the potential risks of calling specific Israeli ports and their implications for the safety of our crews.'
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Haifa, the third-largest city in Israel by population and host of the Israeli Defense Force's naval base, is one of the areas that has been hit with missile strikes from Iran as the Middle Eastern countries trade blows. The conflict began after talks for a nuclear peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran broke down, leading Israel to attack the latter's nuclear facilities and military targets on June 13.
The container shipping giant will still call the Port of Ashdod as it arranges alternative transportation options for customers.
'We are in close contact with customers who may be impacted by this decision and are working to provide alternative transport solutions to minimize disruption,' said Maersk in a Thursday update. 'We will continue to closely monitor the situation and stand ready to reassess this decision as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so. Further updates will be shared as new information becomes available.'
The decision follows an earlier call to suspend air operations in Israel after the government shut down Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. The airport has been shuttered for scheduled flights for over six days as airspace remains closed throughout Israel, Iran and neighboring Iraq.
The Port of Haifa has not taken any damage from the missile attacks, but a nearby oil refinery was forced to shut down after a power station was damaged.
'The Port at Haifa is Israel's busiest and most important link enabling international trade and exports as well as receiving and processing import containers supplying goods to the local population,' said David Gonzalez, an analyst and logistics research vice president in a note to clients published Thursday night. 'Any degree of constraint to the accessibility of these and other ports in the region will add significant pressure to the remaining infrastructure as companies scramble to secure capacity and services to other entry and exit points across the region.'
Other container shipping companies thus far are still serving the port, including Israel-based ZIM and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). But Maersk's decision is one that could possibly sway firms to reconsider.
'Conflict in the Middle East has seen elevated risk and associated operational costs for ocean container shipping trades transiting the Arabian Gulf, such as security measures, higher bunker fuel prices and burning more fuel due to faster sailing through high-risk areas,' said Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, who noted the lack of decisive moves by carriers in announcing service changes. 'There is clearly a serious risk of further escalation in this conflict and the potential for disruption to supply chains and spike in freight rates.'
According to Sand, the conflict has already contributed to a one-month 55 percent increase in average ocean freight spot rates on the trade from Shanghai to Jebel Ali—the Arabian Gulf's largest port. Average spot rates now stand at $2,761 per 40-foot container, well ahead of the $1,783 calculated as of May 20.
Maersk has been no stranger to avoiding potential trouble areas in the Middle East, with the company rerouting vessels away from the Red Sea since late 2023, when the Houthis began attacking commercial vessels with missiles and drones.
Although the Houthis have not attacked container shipping throughout 2025, the carrier and most of its competitors have stood firm that they will not traverse the waterway until safety is guaranteed.
According to a threat circular from Ambrey, Israel-affiliated vessels passing through the Red Sea remain at high risk. Additionally, U.S., U.K., and allied-affiliated vessels may face heightened risk if their nations participate in military action against the Houthis or Iran, the security firm says.
Maersk's role in transporting Israeli cargo has ruffled some feathers among pro-Palestine activists protesting the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The company has come under scrutiny for its transfer of military equipment like combat vehicles and fighter jet parts.
Maersk contends that while it carries military equipment to Israel, it does not transport weapons or ammunition to the area, or any other conflict zones.
Various protests have broken out related to Maersk's positioning, with the most high-profile occurring in Copenhagen, where climate activist Greta Thunberg served as part of the demonstration.
Thunberg and a group of other activists were later detained on a Gaza-bound flotilla by Israeli officials after attempting to bring humanitarian aid to the region. The detainees were brought to Israel before they returned to their home countries.