The French shipping company CMA CGM announced that it has instructed all its vessels in the Persian Gulf, or en route to the area, "to seek shelter with immediate effect." The decision comes after US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran and escalating tensions in the region.
In a statement, the group also specified that transit through the Suez Canal is "suspended until further notice." The affected vessels will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern tip of Africa, which will significantly lengthen the journeys. Customers will be informed later of any alternative ports of discharge.
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz
For its part, the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd announced it was suspending the passage of its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic point for global trade, particularly oil. The European Union Naval Force indicated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had sent radio messages to the ships stating that passage was "not authorized," although no official closure decision had been confirmed at that time.
Exchanges of strikes and missile fire in the region raise fears of an escalation of the conflict, with potential repercussions on international shipping routes.
