Update to Vessel blockage in the Suez Canal

April 20, 2021 - Update 20

While we still expect the Suez canal closure to impact schedules and port calls well into May, as vessels are brought back on their fixed schedules, our people are working continuously to mitigate the felt impact for our customers and to ensure reliability in our operations. 

Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost priority to us and we are working to give you the tools and information you need to do so. Your concern is our concern and we regret the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business in a time where certain industries are already stretched due to the pandemic. The new normal is still being determined, but we expect the situation to remain tight into the third quarter. Ports and infrastructures remain bottlenecks and because of this, ocean and inland delays are likely to continue in and out from high demand locations. Our teams are working around the clock to alleviate pressure points, so do not hesitate to reach out for an individual assessment as of what this means for you.

The integrity of our products and customer promise is paramount to serving all our customers and we must ensure that what we sell to our customers, we can deliver. We are deploying all our current capacity to lessen the impact on our customers’ supply chains. As we get more visibility across the supply chain, we are responsibly accepting short-term bookings across the board. Please note that full acceptance of short-term bookings is being determined by port and equipment availability, as well as the timeliness of getting our services back on schedule. As there will be local variations depending on the load port in question, we encourage customers to check short-term availability online via Spot on Maersk.com or via your local Maersk agent.

Equipment supply and the repositioning of empties remains a concern, but to further lessen the impact on our customers’ supply chains, given the extraordinary market conditions triggered by both the global pandemic as well as the vessel blockage at the Suez Canal, we are accelerating the injection of new Dry containers into our fleet. By the end of the second quarter we will have added around 260.000 TEUs. This comes after the 400.000 TEUs already added to our fleet from July 2020 to January 2021.

Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible, but please note that as the Suez situation deescalates, we will be emailing you less frequently. As impacts are localised and individual, please continue the conversation with your local Maersk team or visit Maersk.com for all the latest updates.

April 08, 2021 - Update 19

We are pleased to see the complete queue of vessels waiting to transit the Suez Canal rapidly diminish and that daily sailings can soon start to normalise. To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please note that you can use our interactive map functionality to track any Maersk vessel in real time and gain access to AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA) via our Hub. Click here to login to the Hub.

For each day that passes we are getting a clearer picture of what this incident means for our customers. We want to give you the best ability to manage your supply chain and we are continually assessing the delays across the vessels, port and terminal backlogs to provide you with the best information for you to advantageously do so.

While we still expect the canal closure to impact schedules and port calls well into May, as vessels are brought back on their fixed schedules, our people are working relentlessly with all the data at hand to alleviate the knock-on effects of the Suez blockage. While the impact is still significant in certain areas, we have been successful with a number of mitigation efforts. We are therefore very pleased to be able to open for short-term bookings including Spot bookings again, starting already this week for some of the affected trades. This will entail that we once again can cater to all the needs of our customers.

Having near 50 vessels delayed for around a week due to the Suez blockage, either waiting at the Canal or being redirected by the South of Africa, full acceptance of short-term bookings are being determined by port and equipment availability, as well as the timeliness of getting our services back on schedule. As there will be local variations depending on the load port in question, we encourage customers to check short-term availability online via Spot on Maersk website or via your local Maersk agent.

Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. Our teams are here to serve you, so please contact us if you have any questions.

Please also note that as the Suez situation deescalates, we will be emailing you less frequently. However, our web advisory will always hold the latest updates.

April 05, 2021 - Update 18

We are pleased to see the queue of vessels waiting to transit the Suez Canal steadily going down. Maersk and partners are working hard to transit our vessels through the canal and all those initially queuing up at anchorage is now en route to their next destination. As new inbound vessels reach the canal, our aim is that these vessels will only experience a 1-2-day delay and that by Wednesday we will have a blank sheet. See the updated vessel list below.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.
*Reinstate Suez: vessel had originally been redirected but now turned and on their way to Suez.

The integrity of our products is paramount to serving all our customers and we are working continuously to mitigate the felt impact for our customers and to ensure reliability in our operations. This is the reason we have decided to reduce our Maersk Spot booking acceptance temporarily, so we can ensure that what we sell to our customers, we can deliver. Our people are working relentlessly with all the information at hand to alleviate the knock-on effects of the Suez blockage. As we begin to better understand the impact of the delays across the vessels, port and terminal backlogs, we will be able to open Maersk Spot booking acceptance again on affected trading routes. This will entail that we once again can continue to cater to all the needs of our customers. Already starting this week, we expect to be able to indicate when we can open what trades again for short-term bookings. Below is the overview of affected trades.

*Besides the geographical services mentioned above, we will be accepting short term bookings on all other services, where local availability allows.
*subject to change.

We still foresee limitations of both space and equipment in the weeks to come, so please continue to prioritise the most urgent/critical goods to be shipped first. Our teams are here to help, so do not hesitate to reach out to discuss opportunities at hands.

We want to advise our customers that shipments not directly impacted by the Suez blockage might also be affected as we adjust our network to avoid port congestions and to limit the overall net loss of ocean network capacity due to omitted ports as a result of redirecting 12 vessels. To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see our AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA). As a Maersk customer you can also make use our interactive map functionality. Click here to login to the Hub.

Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost priority to us and we are working to give you the tools and information you need to do so. Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. Our teams are here to serve you, so please contact us if you have any questions.

Please also note that as the Suez situation deescalates, we will be emailing you less frequently. However, our web advisory will always hold the latest updates.

April 03, 2021 - Update 17

With a steady inbound flow every day, the total queue waiting to transit the Suez Canal is now around 200 vessels. Maersk and partners are working hard to transit our vessels through the canal and all those initially queueing up at anchorage is now en route to their next destination. On top of those, we have had 7 vessels reach the canal the last few days and will have 1 more inbound tonight. Given that convoys keep running at max capacity the following days, our aim is that these vessels will only experience a 1-2-day delay. See the updated vessel list below

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.
*Reinstate Suez: vessel had originally been redirected but now turned and on their way to Suez.

We want to advise our customers that shipments not directly impacted by the Suez blockage might also be affected as we adjust our network to avoid port congestions and to limit the overall net loss of ocean network capacity due to omitted ports as a result of redirecting 12 vessels. Our teams are ready to serve you, so do not hesitate to reach out for individual assessment as of what this means for you.

To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see our AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA). As a Maersk customer you can also make use our interactive map functionality. Click here to login to the Hub.

Due to foreseeable space and equipment limitations in the weeks to come, we still advise you to prioritise the most urgent/critical goods to be shipped first. You can also support our current efforts by working to return equipment faster.

Growing your business is of the utmost value to us and your supply chain is of the utmost priority. Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. Recognising the Easter weekend and working hours, we have updated our FAQ with the most frequent questions our customers are asking us, but please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have further questions.

Please also note that as the Suez situation deescalates, we will be emailing you less frequent. However, our web advisory will always hold the latest information.

April 02, 2021 - Update 16

The clearing of vessels waiting at the Suez Canal is going well and Maersk and partners have so far seen a large number of vessels pass already. With a steady inbound flow every day, the total queue is now 227 and we will have 6 vessels pass today, leaving 9 vessels still in the queue (including 2 that are inbound tonight). See the updated vessel list below.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.
*Reinstate Suez: vessel had originally been redirected but now turned and on their way to Suez.

Growing your business is of the utmost value to us and your supply chain is of the utmost priority. Our operations and customer experience colleagues are working relentlessly with all the information at hand to alleviate the knock-on effects of the Suez blockage. We are intensively working towards avoiding port congestions and we are so far managing to plan around the port clashes. At the same time there is a high urgency to get the services back on schedule, as we have had near 50 vessels delayed for a full week or more due to the Suez blockage, either waiting at the Canal or being redirected South of Africa.

No decision is made without a thorough analysis by our operational teams and Ahmed Bashir, Head of our Global Execution Centres, puts some words on the workings behind the scenes.

We want to provide the best tools and information for you to advantageously manage your supply chain and throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. Recognising the Easter weekend and working hours, we have updated our FAQ with the most frequent questions our customers are asking us, but please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have further questions.

Please also note that as the Suez situation deescalates, we will be emailing you less frequently. However, our web advisory will always hold the latest updates.

April 01, 2021 - Update 15

The clearing of vessels waiting at the Suez Canal is going well and after the canal was reopened for passage, more than half of the queue has now made their transit though the canal. Maersk and partners have so far seen a large part of vessels pass already. We expect to have 9 more transit today, leaving 9 vessels still waiting at anchorage, with 4 vessels arriving at the canal today. See the updated vessel list below.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.
*Reinstate Suez: vessel had originally been redirected but now turned and on their way to Suez.

Having lost almost a week of capacity, the real task for us starts now. We are working continuously to mitigate the felt impact for our customers and to ensure reliability in our operations.

The integrity of our products is paramount to serving all our customers. This is the reason we have decided to reduce our Maersk Spot booking acceptance temporarily, so we can ensure that what we sell to our customers, we can deliver. Our network design and operations colleagues are working relentlessly with all the information at hand to alleviate the knock-on effects of the Suez blockage. As we begin to better understand the impact of the delays across the vessels, port and terminal backlogs, we will be able to open Maersk Spot booking acceptance again on affected trading routes. This will entail that we once again can continue to cater to all the needs of our customers. Below is the overview of affected trades.

*Besides the geographical services mentioned above, we will be accepting short term bookings on all other services, where local availability allows.
*subject to change.

Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost priority to us and we are working to give you the tools and information you need to do so. Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. We regret the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business in a time where certain industries may already be stretched due to the pandemic.

Recognising the Easter weekend and working hours, we have updated our FAQ with the most frequent questions our customers are asking us, but please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have further questions.

Please also note that as the Suez situation deescalates, we will be emailing you less frequently. However, our web advisory will always hold the latest updates.

March 31, 2021 - Update 14

The clearing of vessels waiting at the Suez Canal is going well and after the canal was reopened for passage, we have seen 43 vessels from the total queue pass Monday, 66 Tuesday and we expect close to max capacity pass today. Maersk and partners have so far seen 17 vessels waiting at anchorage transit the canal, three of them being Triple Es. Based on this, and a steady flow of vessels still arriving the queue, we still expect that it would take until end of this week to move the complete queue through the canal, conditional to safety and other operational circumstances.

We are closely looking at how we can adjust the network to avoid port congestions and we are so far managing to plan vessel calls without major clashes. We will be working directly with our customers on their import shipments, minimising delays as best possible. The next challenge is to get the services back on schedule, as we have near 50 vessels delayed for a full week or more due to the Suez blockage, either waiting at the Canal or being redirected South of Africa.

When the delayed vessels start hitting the next load ports in both Asia and Europe, we cannot avoid a significant impact on our equipment availability and capacity availability in the coming period. We urge our customers not to think that the situation is resolved and advise you to prioritise the most urgent/critical goods to be shipped first due to the foreseeable limitations in the weeks to come. Our teams are ready to serve you, so do not hesitate to reach out for individual assessment as of what this means for you.

We are doing our utmost to mitigate the impact on lost capacity and because of this, we have decided to temporarily cease short term bookings placed via Spot, as well as short term contracts this week and in the immediate future on selected trades. We want to assure you that this is only temporary and besides the geographical services mentioned here we will be accepting short term bookings on all other services, where local availability allows.

*Besides the geographical services mentioned above, we will be accepting short term bookings on all other services, where local availability allows.

In terms of equipment, there are three factors we need to consider: The first is the continuation of our current efforts to position both dry and reefer equipment as intended and needed at origin. The second is that we are still reviewing how sailings in the coming weeks may be adjusted, which will affect the delivery of both laden and empty containers to those origins. Finally, we need to take into account terminal capacity around the world as a variable; terminals and container yards are currently faced with capacity restrictions in many locations.

Your business is of the utmost value to us and throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. We regret the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business in a time where certain industries may already be stretched due to the pandemic.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any questions.

March 30, 2021 - Update 13

Suez mitigation efforts

As you may be aware, the blockage in the Suez Canal has been removed and we have recommenced transit through the channel. We would like to address short term bookings in this advisory.

We have earlier communicated that even when reopened, the blockage of the Suez Canal would have ripple effects on global supply chains for weeks to come. We are doing our utmost to mitigate the impact and minimise the total impact of our customers’ supply chains. Your business is of the highest value for us and where possible we will continue to accept short term bookings. However, expecting a significant loss in capacity over multiple weeks, depending on market dynamics, we have decided to temporarily cease short term bookings placed via Spot, as well as short term contracts this week and in the immediate future, in these geographical services:

Exports out of Asia

• To all markets, due to expected equipment shortage

Exports out of West Central Asia

• To Europe and North Africa
• To North America East Coast
• To West Africa via Mediterranean
• To Latin America via Mediterranean

Exports out of Europe

• To Asia
• To Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent
• To Oceania

Exports out of North America

• To Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent
• To East Africa

Exports out of Latin America

• East Coast South America to Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent and Asia via Mediterranean
• Central America and West Coast South America to Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent

Exports out of Africa

• East Africa to Europe
• West Africa to Asia, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent via Mediterranean

This suspension includes online bookings via Spot, as well as short term contracts. We want to assure you that this is only temporary so that we may quickly move existing laden cargo and empty containers to the areas they are most needed.

Besides the above, where local availability allows, we will be accepting short term bookings on all other services.

We will inform you as soon as the ceased services are available to again book on Maersk.com or through your preferred platform. Should you need to discuss service options for your cargo currently within Maersk control (either on water, truck, terminal, rail, warehouse or air) please contact your local Customer Experience team or Sales representative.

March 30, 2021 - Update 12

After the Ever Given was re-floated yesterday and moved to the Great Bitter Lake, the 43 vessels waiting at anchorage in the lake was able to form a southbound convoy – three of them Maersk vessels – and pass through the canal. We expect that it will take approximately a week to move the complete queue through the canal, conditional to safety and other operational circumstances. As more vessels reach the queue, this is an estimate and is subject to change.

Find the updates in the tables below.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.
*Reinstate Suez: vessel had originally been redirected but now turned and on their way to Suez.

Please note that you can use our interactive map functionality to track any Maersk vessel in real time and gain access to AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA) via our Hub. Click here to login in.

We have earlier communicated that even when reopened, the blockage of the Suez Canal would have ripple effects on global supply chains for weeks to come. At this point in time, we estimate that the delays could have an impact on our ocean network capacity for the coming several weeks. We are doing our utmost to mitigate the impact and contingency plans are still being made, but the loss of capacity to be 20-30 percent over multiple weeks, depending on market dynamics.

Beyond the loss of capacity, we expect severe port congestions as ships will be arriving out of their slotted time, leading to adjusted rotations to limit the overall net loss of ocean network capacity.

What are we asking of you?

Due to foreseeable limitations of space and equipment in the weeks to come, we advise you to prioritise the most urgent/critical goods to be shipped first. Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible and we regret the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business in a time where certain industries may already be stretched due to the pandemic.

We are all in this together and please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative to talk about alternative options and to raise any questions you might have.

March 29, 2021 - Update 11

Having received the good news that the Ever Given vessel had been re-floated and on its way to anchorage at the Great Bitter Lake, as well as expecting the canal to be opened for passage within the next 12-24 hours, we have decided to turn around two of our redirected vessel to continue their original route via the Suez Canal.
Find the updates in the tables below.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.
*Reinstate Suez: vessel had originally been redirected but now turned and on their way to Suez.

We do not take the decisions of redirections lightly, as straying off course gives a series of ripple effects. Ahmed Bashir, Head of our Global Execution Centres, shares his views on the situation at hand.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions.

March 29, 2021 - Update 10

We have received confirmation that the Ever Given has been dislodged in the Suez Canal and is now fully floating. It is expected that the vessel will be moved to the Great Bitter Lake with the utmost caution. Once the vessel is safe at anchorage, the vessels currently at anchorage in the lake - three of them Maersk vessels - will sail out of the canal in a convoy. The canal could be opened within the next 12-24 hours, but the current situation remains that the canal is not yet free for passage and we are still not able to share when the canal clean-up is completed, and the canal re-opened for the complete queue of waiting vessels to pass through. We are monitoring the situation closely, as Maersk and partners have 34 vessels at anchorage waiting.

Watch the vessel float in this video from Svitzer, A Maersk strategic brand, as two of their tug boats assist in towing the vessel North.

We have until now 15 redirected vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa and we are currently recalculating if some of these vessels should turn around and continue on their original route. More information will come on this after assessing the current backlog of vessels queueing.

To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see the planned schedule for Maersk and partner vessels for the next two weeks here.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions.

*Reinstate Suez: vessel had originally been redirected but now turned and on their way to Suez.

March 29, 2021 - Update 9

Whilst efforts in the Suez Canal continue to dislodge the container ship operated by Evergreen Marine, we have this morning received reports of good progress overnight. After several days with dredging and excavation, the Ever Given ship has been partly refloated. It is not yet fully dislodged and it is too early to say when the Suez Canal will be cleared for operations again, but we are monitoring the situation closely. A new advisory will be issued later today when we have more information.

Currently Maersk and partners have three vessels stuck in the canal and 30 vessels waiting to enter the canal, with more expected to reach the blockage today. We have until now redirected 15 vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. These decisions were made close to the point of no return and it is expected that they will continue via the south of Africa, also to reduce the number of vessels in the queue. Assessing the current backlog of vessels, it could take 6 days or more for the complete queue to pass, conditional to safety and other operational circumstances. As more vessels either reach the blockage or is redirected, this is an estimate and is subject to change.

To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see the planned schedule for Maersk and partner vessels for the next two weeks here.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.

Even when the canal gets reopened, the ripple effects on global capacity and equipment are significant and the blockage has already triggered a series of further disruptions and backlogs in global shipping that could take weeks, possibly months, to unravel. Your supply chain is of the utmost concern to us and we are closely following the refloating operations and will do our utmost to mitigate the impact as best as we can.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions.

March 28, 2021 - Update 8

The Suez Canal passage continues to be blocked in both directions. Whilst efforts continue to dislodge the container ship operated by Evergreen Marine, numbers show that over 300 ships are now waiting at anchorage to pass through the canal. Currently Maersk and partners have three vessels stuck in the canal and 27 vessels waiting to enter the canal, with two more expected to reach the blockage today. We have until now redirected 15 vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. Watch this video with the head of our global execution centre where he talks about some of the factors that play into these mitigation decisions.

To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see the planned schedule for Maersk and partner vessels for the next two weeks here.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.

Please note that you can use our interactive map functionality to track any Maersk vessel in real time and gain access to AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA) via our Hub. Click here to login in.

For every day the canal remains blocked, the ripple effects on global capacity and equipment continues to increase and the blockage triggers a series of further disruptions and backlogs in global shipping that could take months to unravel, even after the canal is reopened. Redirecting vessels also mean that these vessels will be missing somewhere else during that time, leading to further shortage in the market.

We see it as our utmost priority to mitigate this where we can and have in certain areas already started to proactively manage our capacity will not be accepting cargo where we cannot ensure space. Our partners are also looking into the impacts on flows in our hubs and key terminals, trying to avoid flooding of cargo if it can’t be loaded onboard a vessel.

For the immediate term we also anticipate higher short-term (or spot) rates, with vessels being delayed this week and missing in the system. However long-term it will not continue as volumes will go down. At the current time we do not expect this to change the overall prospects for the year towards a normalisation.

Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. We are all in this situation together and everyone needs to collaborate towards mitigating the situation, for instance working to return equipment faster.

While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business in a time where certain industries are already stretched due to the pandemic. Businesses reliant on just in time supply chains risk having to reproduce or resort to flying in essential components and for critical shipments we recommend that you reach out to your local sales representative for dialogues and quotations on alternative solutions for urgent cargo that is still at origin or elsewhere.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions. Recognising the weekend and working hours, please find a FAQ below aiming to answer your most immediate questions.

March 28, 2021 - Update 7

The Suez Canal passage continues to be blocked in both directions. Whilst efforts continue to dislodge the container ship operated by Evergreen Marine, numbers show that over 300 ships are now waiting at anchorage to pass through the canal. There is a steady inflow of vessels reaching the canal and the effects of the redirected vessels from global carriers is not yet reflected in the queue. Currently we (Maersk and partners) have three vessels stuck in the canal and 27 vessels waiting to enter the canal, with two more expected to reach the blockage today.

To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see the planned schedule for Maersk and partner vessels for the next two weeks here.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.
*Waiting at anchorage: vessel has already arrived at Suez while waiting to pass through the canal.
*En route to Suez: vessel has completed operations in previous ports and on their way to Suez.
*Under port rotation: vessel is still under operation in previous ports, after it they shall sail directly towards Suez in case no CoGH diversion decision taken.

We have until now redirected 15 vessels where we deemed the delay of sailing around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa equal to the current delay of sailing to Suez and queuing. We do not expect to redirect any further ships during the weekend based on this analysis. New calculations on redirecting additional vessels will be made Monday considering the weekends’ salvage attempts.

While ETAs are jeopardized, it is too early to indicate the delay as we are doing our utmost to mitigate this. Please note that you can use our interactive map functionality to track any Maersk vessel in real time and gain access to AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA) via our Hub. Click here to login to the Hub.

While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business and for critical shipments we recommend that you reach out to your local sales representative for dialogues and quotations on alternative solutions, such as air and rail for urgent cargo that is still at origin or elsewhere.

March 27, 2021 - Update 6

The Suez Canal passage continues to be blocked in both directions as a container ship operated by Evergreen Marine ran aground and became lodged sideways across the waterway due to strong winds and sandstorms early Tuesday March 23.

Whilst efforts to dislodge the Evergreen vessel from the Suez Canal continue, hundreds of ships are caught up in the traffic in both directions. The Suez Canal has a daily capacity of approximately 50 – 85 vessels, with vessels entering from both sides. This navigation simulation from the official Suez Canal Authority (SCA) illustrates the margins very well.

Once the canal is reopened, convoys would aim to run continuously. They are assessing the current backlog of vessels as of the 27th of March, and we would expect that it would take 3-6 days for the complete queue to pass, conditional to safety and other operational circumstances. As more vessels either reach the blockage or is redirected, this is an estimate and is subject to change. Currently we (Maersk and partners) have 22 vessels waiting to enter the canal, with 4-5 expected to reach the blockage today.

While ETAs are jeopardized as salvage efforts continue, it is too early to indicate the total delay of our vessels. To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see the planned schedule for Maersk and partner vessels for the next two weeks.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.

As you can see from our web advisory, the current number redirected Maersk and partner vessels is 14 and expected to rise as we assess the salvage efforts along with network capacity and fuel on our vessels currently en route to Suez. Please note that you can use our interactive map functionality to track any Maersk vessel in real time and gain access to AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA) via our Hub. Click here to login to the Hub.

While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business and for critical shipments we recommend that you reach out to your local sales representative for dialogues and quotations on alternative solutions, such as air and rail for urgent cargo that is still at origin or elsewhere.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions.

March 27, 2021 - Update 5

The Suez Canal passage continues to be blocked in both directions as a container ship operated by Evergreen Marine ran aground and became lodged sideways across the waterway due to strong winds and sandstorms early Tuesday March 23.

Whilst efforts to dislodge the Evergreen vessel from the Suez Canal continue, hundreds of ships are caught up in the traffic snarl in both directions. For every day that passes, more vessels will reach the blockage. To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see the planned schedule for Maersk and partner vessels for the next two weeks here.

*Please note that the vessel lists might be subject to change as we continue to divert vessels where possible.

As you can see from our web advisory, the current number redirected Maersk and partner vessels is 14 and expected to rise as we assess the salvage efforts along with network capacity and fuel on our vessels currently en route to Suez.

While ETAs are jeopardized as salvage efforts continue, it is too early to indicate the delay, as we are doing our utmost to mitigate this. Please note that you can use our interactive map functionality to track any Maersk vessel in real time and gain access to AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA) via our Hub. Click here to login to the Hub.

As a customer of Maersk, your cargo might also be on another vessel from a different operator than the above. All Maersk customers, whose cargo is directly impacted by the current situation, will receive specific information regarding detailed schedule changes and alternative options provided once we have the full overview.

For every day the canal remains blocked, the ripple effects on global capacity and equipment continues to increase. The impact will continue well beyond the physical removal of the vessel and we are working hard to manage the impact as much as possible – both operationally and commercially. We have already started to proactively manage our capacity will not be accepting cargo where we cannot ensure space. Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible. We are all in this situation together and everyone needs to collaborate towards mitigating the situation, for instance working to return equipment faster.

While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business and for critical shipments we recommend that you reach out to your local sales representative for dialogues and quotations on alternative solutions, such as air and rail for urgent cargo that is still at origin or elsewhere.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions.

March 26, 2021 - Update 4

The Suez Canal passage continues to be blocked in both directions as a container ship operated by Evergreen Marine ran aground and became lodged sideways across the waterway due to strong winds and sandstorms early Tuesday March 23.

Whilst efforts to dislodge the Evergreen vessel from the Suez Canal continue, over two hundred ships are caught up in the traffic snarl in both directions.

For every day that passes, more vessels will reach the blockage. To give you as much visibility into the situation as possible, please see the planned schedule Maersk and partner vessels for the next two weeks here.

If you want to track a vessel in real time and gain access to AI-powered predictive analysis and estimated times of arrival (ETA), you can login to the Hub and use the interactive map functionality. Click here to login to the Hub.

While ETAs are jeopardized as salvage efforts continue, it is too early to indicate the delay, as we are doing our utmost to mitigate this. Where we can, we are already diverting vessels that have the capacity and enough fuel for a route change. Please reference the table above. Therefore, please note that the vessel list might change as we continue to divert vessels where possible. For every day the canal remains blocked, the tailwind of global impact on capacity and equipment continues to increase.

As a customer of Maersk, your cargo might also be on another vessel from a different operator than the above. All Maersk customers, whose cargo is directly impacted by the current situation, will receive specific information regarding detailed schedule changes and alternative options provided once we have the full overview.

While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business and for critical shipments we recommend that you reach out to your local sales representative for dialogues and quotations on alternative solutions, such as air and rail for urgent cargo that is still at origin or elsewhere.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions.

March 25, 2021 - Update 3

As you may already be aware, the Suez Canal passage is currently blocked to vessels in both directions. A container ship operated by Evergreen Marine was knocked off course by strong winds and a sandstorm early Tuesday March 23.

Whilst efforts to dislodge the Evergreen vessel from the Suez Canal continue, close to two hundred ships are caught up in the traffic snarl in both directions of this global trade artery, which carries about 12% of global trade. So far, nine Maersk container vessels and two partner vessels have been directly affected. Efforts are being made to move all north bound vessels out of the canal to facilitate a clear passage and continuous convoys when the Evergreen vessel has successfully been released. The Suez Canal Authority will also send 13 smaller vessels to Great Bitter Lake (Ismailia) to minimize number of vessels waiting at Port Said/Suez for anchorage.

While ETAs are jeopardized as salvage efforts continue, the impact on the global supply chain as a result of the vessel blockage in the Suez Canal depends on how long the route remains impassable. We are closely following the refloating operations and will do our utmost to mitigate the delay as best as we can. Your supply chain is of the utmost concern to us and we will continue to keep you informed of all developments.

As a customer of Maersk, your cargo might also be on another vessel from a different operator than the above. All Maersk customers, whose cargo is directly impacted by the current situation, will receive specific information regarding detailed schedule changes and alternative options provided once we have the full overview.

While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business and for critical shipments we recommend that you reach out to your local sales representative for dialogues and quotations on alternative solutions, such as air and rail for urgent cargo that is still at origin or elsewhere.

Please don’t hesitate contacting your local Maersk representative should you have any further questions.

March 24, 2021 - Update 2

As you may already be aware, the Suez Canal passage is currently blocked to vessels in both directions. A container ship operated by Evergreen Marine was knocked off course by strong winds and a sandstorm early Tuesday March 23.

Unfortunately, the operations attempt of refloating the vessel during the night has failed. 2 dredgers will continue to dredge throughout the night. At this time (0015 AM local time in Suez, Egypt), towage service has been suspended for the remainder of the night and will resume approximately 0800-0900 local time.

The incident continues to create long tailbacks on the waterway, stopping vessels from passing and causing delays.

A.P. Moller - Maersk is constantly monitoring the current situation and closely following the efforts of the impacted vessel to further update the accessibility to both south and north bound services.

So far, seven Maersk container vessels have been affected; four of which currently within the canal system while the rest are waiting to enter the passage.

All customers, whose cargoes are impacted by the current situation, will receive specific information regarding detailed schedule changes and alternative options provided. While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business. We will do our utmost to mitigate the delay as best as we can. Your supply chain is of the utmost concern to us and we will continue to keep you informed of all developments.

Should you have any further questions, please contact your local Maersk representative.

March 24, 2021 - Update 1

We would like to inform you of the current situation in the Suez Canal where dozens of vessels are stuck after an EverGreen Marine container ship became wedged across, blocking the canal in both directions.

The incident has already created long tailbacks on the waterway, stopping vessels from passing and causing delays.

Rescue boats are working to free the 400m-long (1312ft) vessel, which was knocked off course by strong winds. Svitzer, Maersk provider of towage and safety services, is taking part in the ongoing re-float operations as requested by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).

A.P. Moller - Maersk is constantly monitoring the current situation and closely following the refloating efforts of the impacted vessel to further update the accessibility to both south and north bounds.

So far, seven of Maersk container vessels have been affected; four of them are stuck in the canal system while the rest are waiting to enter the passage:

All customers whose cargo is impacted by the current situation will receive specific information regarding detailed schedule changes and alternative options provided. While out of our control, we apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business, and we will do our utmost to mitigate the delay as best as we can. Your supply chain is of the utmost concern to us and we will continue to keep you informed of all developments.

Should you have any further questions, please contact your local Maersk representative.