4 ships from CMA CGM were forced to abort their attempted exit from the Persian Gulf on 18 April 2026 after Iran shut down the passage through the Strait of Hormuz less than 24 hours after announcing its re-opening. The 4 ships were part of a convoy of 12 ships that was led by the Apollo Easterns managed 1,030 teu ship BHAGYA LAXMI. She was followed by the 15,254 teu CMA CGM EVERGLADE, 2,592 teu CMA CGM MANAUS, 15,254 teu CMA CGM GALAPAGOS and 3,534 teu CMA CGM DIAMOND, while a second group of
ONE and HMM will launch a new Mediterranean Africa Express (MAX)/Mediterranean-West Africa 2 (MA2) service connecting Algeciras, Tangier, Dakar, Tema, Lekki, Abidjan, Algeciras from 7 July 2026. The MAX/MA2 service will turn in 35 days using 5 ships of 2,700 to 2,800 teu.
Register Free Trial MSC has become the first container carrier to operate 1,000 ships as it extended its lead at the top of the carrier rankings amidst continued market uncertainty driven by the Middle East crisis. The US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting from 13 April will further escalate the current tensions but the impact on the container shipping market is negligible as vessel traffic has been largely limited to Iranian linked ships over the past 6 weeks with just 4 outbound
CMA CGM has returned to the Suez route on a second Asia-Med service, with the Mediterranean Club Express (MEX) service scheduled to use the shorter route on both directions. 2 ships on eastbound voyages have already switched from the Cape route to the Suez route since the end of March 2026 starting with the 16,022 CMA CGM JULES VERNE on 29 March followed by the 15,536 CMA CGM APOLLON on 3 April. The first westbound voyage is scheduled on 21 April 2026 with the 16,022 teu CMA CGM MARCO POLO. The
Zhonggu has upgraded its China Red Sea Express (CRX) service with 6 ships of 1,700-1,900 teu being deployed on the service that calls at Ningbo, Nansha, Aden, Sokhna, Aqaba, Jeddah, Ningbo. The service was launched by Zhonggu in October 2025 initially with just 3 ships, with more ships being added gradually. The service turns in 8 weeks, with gaps being filled with slots on Sea Legend's Red Sea service.
Register Free Trial The Middle East tensions have claimed its first casualties, with the first containership sunk in the Persian Gulf 4 weeks after it was struck by Iranian missiles while SeaLead was forced to scale back its operations after its main Middle East service was incapacitated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic remain mostly closed in the Hormuz, with the 5,466 teu CMA CGM KRIBI the only non-Iranian linked ship to make it out last week. There are still 45 ships for 275,0
Maersk has launched a new Intra-Asia 98 (IA98) service connecting Ningbo, Shanghai, Sihanoukville, Laem Chabang, Ningbo from 3 April 2026. The service will turn in 3 weeks and deploys 3 ships of 1,700-1,900 teu starting with the 1,802 teu MAERSK VISBY at Ningbo on 3 April 2026, followed by the 1,781 teu MTT PORT KELANG and 1,930 teu ERASMUS PASSION.
SITC has restored its China Japan Vietnam 7 (CJV7) service with a revised rotation calling at Danang, Haiphong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Hakata, Moji, Shanghai, Xiamen, Danang from 28 March 2026. The CJV7 will turn in 21 days and deploys 3 ships of 900 to 1,000 teu starting with the 907 teu SITC HONGKONG and followed by the 1,056 teu M. ATLAS and 907 teu SITC NAGOYA.
MSC has finally launched the long-delayed Asia-Med Phoenix service to take advantage of increased demand for Iraqi cargo via the East Med gateway through Turkey. The new Phoenix service will call at Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Iskenderun, Trieste, Koper, Rijeka, Aliaga, Singapore, Busan from 2 April 2026. The service will turn in 16 weeks and will deploy ships of 8,000 to 11,000 teu starting with the 9,178 teu SANTA LINEA at Busan on 2 April 2026. The next 2 sailings have been co
Zhonggu Logistics have launched a new Qinzhou-Ho Chi Minh City (ZGCV2) service that connects Qinzhou and Ho Chi Minh City on a weekly basis using the 529 teu XIN HAI XIU from 11 March 2026. The service will complement Zhonggu's existing Qinzhou-Haiphong service that is currently operated with the 508 teu HENG HUI.