Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk suspended new cargo bookings to and from several Arabian Gulf ports on Wednesday, citing safety concerns amid the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.

The latest operational update, issued earlier today, stated that Maersk is "temporarily suspending cargo booking acceptance in and out of UAE, Oman (all ports apart from Salalah), Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail only) until further notice." Exceptions apply to critical foodstuffs, medicine, and other essential goods. The company also halted acceptance of refrigerated, dangerous, and special cargo to and from those locations, plus Jordan.

This follows a similar announcement on Tuesday, which targeted new bookings between the India Subcontinent and upper Gulf markets, including reefer and special cargo suspensions. Maersk attributed the measures to the need to "ensure safety of personnel, safeguard cargo integrity, and maintain service stability."

The moves come after Maersk suspended all vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global trade and oil shipments, earlier this week. Security incidents have been reported across the Arabian Gulf, prompting carriers to divert vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. Escalating tensions, including reported U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent warnings from Tehran, have heightened risks in the region.

Competitor Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) took a more drastic step, declaring an "end of voyage" for all shipments bound for Arabian Gulf ports currently on its vessels. Containers will be discharged at the next safe port, with customers facing surcharges of $800 per container plus additional fees. Maersk has imposed emergency freight increases of up to $3,800 for reefer containers to affected Gulf destinations and is rerouting some in-transit cargo for temporary storage near the region.

Ports such as Jeddah and King Abdullah Port in Saudi Arabia, along with Salalah in Oman, remain operational as alternatives. Customers are advised to contact local representatives for adjusted routing or inland solutions, particularly for perishable goods.

The disruptions could exacerbate supply chain pressures, with services to Gulf ports facing delays and rerouting. Hapag-Lloyd has also suspended bookings to the upper Gulf. Maersk shares fell alongside those of Hapag-Lloyd following the announcements.

Maersk continues to monitor the situation and update customers on vessel contingencies.