Cosco Shipping Lines has resumed new bookings for general cargo containers moving from the Far East to the Middle East, using multimodal transport solutions designed to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
The company had previously suspended bookings into Gulf markets due to the conflict with Iran. It has now reopened services covering destinations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman.
Under the revised setup, cargo destined for Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali will move through a bonded land bridge via Khor Fakkan or Fujairah. Shipments bound for Upper Gulf markets will also move via bonded road transport from those UAE ports to Cosco Shipping Ports’ terminal in Abu Dhabi, where they will connect with the company’s feeder network for onward delivery.
The routing is intended to avoid direct passage through the Strait of Hormuz while maintaining access to Gulf markets during a period of heightened insecurity.
Cargo bound for Oman will instead be transhipped at Nhava Sheva in India and forwarded to Sohar.
Cosco noted that all routing remains subject to regional conditions, vessel space and final confirmation by the carrier. It also warned that booking and carriage terms may need to be adjusted as the security situation evolves.
The company said customers seeking details on rates, bookings and applicable terms should contact local sales teams or customer service representatives directly.
The move comes as the Ocean Alliance continues to maintain only limited direct service coverage into the region. Its MEA1 service, operated solely by CMA CGM, still calls Khor Fakkan, while the MEA4 and MEA5 loops previously run by Evergreen and Cosco have been withdrawn.
