Maersk pauses Trans-Suez sailings, reroutes ME11 and MECL around Africa

Maersk announced on March 1 that it would pause future Trans‑Suez sailings that transit the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait and reroute its ME11 and MECL services around the Cape of Good Hope, citing a deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. The company also said it was suspending all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice and warned that services calling Arabian Gulf ports may face delays and schedule adjustments.

In a company advisory titled "Rerouting of ME11 and MECL Service around The Cape of Good Hope," Maersk said, "Due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East region following the escalating military conflict, we have decided - in close coordination with our security partners - to pause future Trans‑Suez sailings through the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait for the time being." The statement added, "Until further, all sailings on the ME11 (Middle East‑India to Mediterranean) and MECL (Middle East‑India to East Coast US) services will be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope."

Maersk framed the move as a safety and continuity decision. "The safety of our crews, vessels and customers' cargo remains our key priority and we will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all needed actions," the advisory said. The company also stressed it was still accepting cargo to the Middle East and that customer teams were available to support planning, directing customers to its Red Sea / Gulf of Aden / Hormuz Strait situation page for updates.

The rerouting follows a fresh spike in regional tensions after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that plunged the area into turmoil, a development that Maersk cited indirectly when describing the "escalating military conflict" behind its decision. The pause marks a reversal of a February step toward restoring Trans‑Suez operations after roughly two years of intermittent disruptions tied to attacks in the Red Sea.

Industry notices to customers indicate the operational impact will be tangible. Maritime Executive reported that Maersk customer notifications signalled changes for the next several sailings: the MECL route would see adjustments to the next three eastbound and three westbound departures, while the ME11 and related Gemini Cooperation sailings would divert for the next three westbound and four eastbound sailings. Maersk’s public advisory did not enumerate specific sailing counts.

Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope adds distance and voyage time, increasing fuel consumption and likely cascading delays across schedules and port calls. Services that normally move through Suez, a shortcut that handles a substantial share of global trade, will instead round southern Africa until security conditions permit a return. Industry figures cited by regional outlets put the Suez Canal's share of global shipments at roughly 12–15% and about 30% of container traffic, underscoring the potential for widespread ripple effects if the pause persists.

Other carriers have taken precautionary steps. Notices circulated in the wake of recent strikes directed vessels bound for the Gulf to seek shelter or suspend Suez transits, signaling broader industry concern about operating in the corridor while conflict escalates.

Maersk said it will prioritise returning to Trans‑Suez routes "once the situation stabilises," calling the route "the fastest, most sustainable and most efficient way for us to serve our customers." For now shippers using ME11 and MECL and ports in the Arabian Gulf should expect longer transit times and service disruptions as Maersk implements the reroute and monitors regional security.