Maersk has implemented temporary booking restrictions for cargo destined to Khorfakkan, Fujairah, and selected Upper Gulf ports, according to a customer advisory issued on 30 October 2026 and reported across shipping trade media in early November . The Copenhagen-based carrier cited continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and congestion at regional ports as the reasons for adjusting booking acceptance and cargo flows, noting that these factors are affecting both cargo movement and delivery timelines .
Under the revised arrangements, Maersk will accept new bookings only based on available capacity, rather than confirming all bookings as a matter of course . The carrier explicitly stated that a revised booking should not be treated as automatically transferred to a later sailing, meaning shippers whose cargo cannot move on the originally planned vessel will need to re-confirm space, costs, and expected delivery timing . This represents a significant departure from standard practice, where a confirmed booking generally equates to a commitment to load on the next available departure.
For existing bookings, Maersk representatives are contacting affected customers directly with shipment-specific information and guidance on next steps, including alternative arrangements where applicable . The carrier has not issued blanket instructions or cancellations, instead adopting a case-by-case approach that allows for individual assessment of each shipment’s routing options and commercial implications . Cargo already in transit remains subject to delays, and Maersk has committed to providing the latest available status for each shipment, including clear indication where a revised onward movement or delivery date cannot yet be confirmed .
The booking restrictions apply to a strategically sensitive set of destinations. Khorfakkan and Fujairah sit on the UAE’s eastern seaboard along the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz itself, and have absorbed substantial cargo volumes diverted away from Jebel Ali and other upper Gulf ports since the Hormuz disruption began . The inclusion of these east coast ports in Maersk’s advisory demonstrates that the operational strain extends beyond the strait to port infrastructure across the wider region, including terminals that were originally designed for transshipment rather than landside cargo evacuation .
The restrictions come amid record-level congestion at the affected gateways. As of 30 October 2026, average vessel waiting times at Khorfakkan reached 7.25 days, while Fujairah recorded 8.86 days over the preceding week . Terminal transfers from these ports to Jebel Ali, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, which previously took around five days, have extended to approximately 12 to 15 days . Some carriers have begun reducing allocations for Khorfakkan, Fujairah, and Sharjah in response, though no widespread direct port omissions have yet been implemented .
For shippers and freight forwarders, Maersk’s advisory introduces a new layer of uncertainty into Middle East supply chain planning. The carrier has not specified an end date for the temporary measures, stating only that it will continue to review them as conditions evolve . Industry analysts note that the wording of the advisory is significant: Maersk has not stopped accepting bookings entirely, but has made space availability the determining factor, effectively introducing a capacity rationing mechanism for a corridor where demand continues to outstrip available vessel and landside resources .
The booking restrictions are part of a broader operational adjustment by Maersk in response to the Hormuz disruption. The carrier has also introduced emergency freight rates for cargo destined to several Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman, with charges of USD 1,800 per 20-foot dry container and USD 3,000 per 40-foot dry container, plus an additional USD 1,000 per container for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz . For the logistics sector, Maersk’s move signals that major carriers are shifting from absorbing disruption through schedule adjustments to actively managing cargo intake, a development that is likely to be watched closely by other operators on Middle East trades .