The Shanghai-based state-owned company announced that, due to the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and restrictions imposed on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, it will “immediately suspend all new bookings until further notice.” The statement indicated that new international bookings to Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and certain regions of Saudi Arabia have been halted, and voyages from Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE have also been suspended.
The ports of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, as well as Khor Fakkan and Fujairah in the UAE, are exempt from the suspension as they can be reached without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Cosco stated that it is closely monitoring developments in the region.
Meanwhile, major shipping companies such as Maersk and MSC have also announced the suspension of their operations in the region.
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