A.P. Moller Maersk (Maersk) has temporarily suspended vessel calls and cargo acceptance at the Port of Haifa, citing security concerns amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Following a review of regional threat assessments, Maersk said the move is a precautionary measure to protect crew, assets, and customer cargo.
Operations at the Port of Ashdod will continue, with alternative transport arrangements being explored for affected shipments.
“We are working closely with impacted customers to minimise disruption and will reassess the situation as soon as conditions allow,” Maersk said in a statement.
The company emphasised that seafarer safety remains its top priority amid ongoing regional instability.
The US government recently urged China to use its influence to prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage through which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas shipments transit.
Speaking on Fox News, US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio warned that any Iranian attempt to block the strait would be a “grave mistake” and “economic suicide” for Tehran. He stressed that such a move would represent a significant escalation, prompting a strong response from the US and its allies, while inflicting greater economic harm on other nations than on the US itself.
