Hapag-Lloyd AG has resumed accepting bookings for imports and exports to and from Upper Gulf destinations—including Kuwait, Dammam (Saudi Arabia), Qatar, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates—via alternative, non-Hormuz routing options designed to uphold service continuity amid evolving regional maritime risks.
Revised Routing via Sharjah Hub
Cargo destined for or originating from Upper Gulf ports will be consolidated and transshipped through Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), UAE—a strategically located, high-capacity hub with direct deep-sea connectivity. From Sharjah, onward distribution is facilitated via integrated feeder and bonded trucking services to:
Kuwait Port (Kuwait)
King Abdulaziz Port (Dammam), Saudi Arabia
Hamad Port (Qatar)
Umm Qasr Port (Iraq)
Ports across the UAE, including Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port
Service Capabilities
The alternative routing solution accommodates:
• Dry, refrigerated (reefer), and in-gauge special project cargo;
• Bonded cross-border trucking between Sharjah Container Terminal and Khorfakkan Port (UAE), operating under UAE Federal Customs Authority supervision;
• Scheduled feeder connections to Oman (e.g., Sohar and Salalah Ports) and India (e.g., Mundra and Nhava Sheva), coordinated through MSC’s and Hapag-Lloyd’s shared regional logistics partnerships.
Operational Parameters
• Feeder rotations operate on a demand-responsive basis—not bound to fixed weekly schedules—to ensure flexibility and safety-driven adaptability;
• Estimated transit time for bonded trucking between Sharjah and Khorfakkan is approximately five calendar days, subject to real-time customs clearance and border crossing protocols;
• All movements are monitored via Hapag-Lloyd’s digital tracking platform (myHL), providing end-to-end visibility and automated documentation updates.
Supplementary Option via Jeddah
As an additional contingency measure, Hapag-Lloyd continues to offer carrier-hauled solutions via Jeddah Islamic Port (JED), enabling indirect access to select Upper Gulf markets through Red Sea–Gulf landbridge corridors.
Strategic Rationale
This operational recalibration reflects Hapag-Lloyd’s proactive risk mitigation strategy in response to persistent geopolitical volatility and heightened maritime security advisories affecting the Strait of Hormuz. By diversifying gateway infrastructure and leveraging established regional hubs, the carrier ensures resilient, compliant, and commercially viable supply chain access for customers engaged in Gulf trade—without compromising service quality, regulatory adherence, or contractual reliability.
Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/knN8fh0FvBIrIZ-CBATM-w