The escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East , which began on February 28, 2026, are jeopardizing the safety of merchant ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters, as well as the safety of their crews. In this context, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that since the start of the conflict, it has verified up to 80 attacks against international vessels in this waterway , which is one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes.
September has presented no different scenario from previous months. Between the 8th and 12th of the ninth month alone, the agency recorded five vessels damaged in various incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.
Faced with this situation, these disruptions are putting pressure on maritime transport costs. The shipping company CMA CGM announced an update to its Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) in response to the increase in fuel prices associated with the escalating situation in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb .
For high-demand shipments (head haul), the rates will be $265 per TEU (20-foot containers) for dry cargo and $320 per TEU for refrigerated cargo. For return shipments, as well as intraregional shipments, the rates will be $75 per TEU for dry cargo and $90 per TEU for refrigerated cargo. These adjustments will take effect on October 1, 2026 .
Maersk, via the same route
Maersk also announced extraordinary charges. In its operational update of September 17, the shipping company reported that it added an emergency fee for cargo originating from or destined for ports in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, with the exception of Salalah.
The charge amounts to $1,800 for a 20-foot dry container , $3,000 for a 40-foot container (FEU), and $3,800 for refrigerated containers, special equipment, and dangerous goods.
In addition to the above, Maersk added a $1,000 charge per container for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Maersk stated that this additional charge is intended to cover costs related to insurance premiums and crew risk compensation.
The company specified that the one thousand dollars is charged in addition to the emergency fee , used to cover costs derived from solutions such as alternative routes, temporary storage and additional charters to move cargo to or from the Upper Gulf region.
The main image was created using artificial intelligence .
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