The top 5 container carriers diverting ships after the Strait of Hormuz disruption

Global container shipping networks run on predictability. Fixed rotations, narrow transit corridors, and tightly managed port sequences keep cargo moving on schedule. When a chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption, those assumptions unravel fast—and supply chains scramble to respond.

For the world's largest carriers—MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO, and Hapag-Lloyd—even short-term security concerns force container ships to alter service rotations, omit port calls, or divert to alternative hubs. The disruption itself presents the immediate problem. But for supply chains trying to respond, the real challenge quickly becomes visibility.

We've tracked the vessel movements across the global fleet to give logistics teams the timely visibility they need to act.

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Impact of the Strait of Hormuz on container shipping

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean. While it is better known as an energy corridor, it is also critical for container ships serving Gulf hubs.

Key container ports in the region include:

• Jebel Ali and Khalifa Port in the UAE
• Dammam in Saudi Arabia
• Hamad Port in Qatar
• Shuwaikh and Shuaiba in Kuwait

These ports serve multiple functions within global trade:

• Import gateways for Gulf economies
• Transshipment nodes for regional feeder networks (transshipment refers to the transfer of cargo from one vessel to another at an intermediate port)
• Key waypoints within Asia–Middle East liner service rotations

When security risks increase in the Strait, carriers may slow sailings, reroute vessels, or temporarily omit Gulf port calls to protect crew, cargo, and schedules. Even minor disruptions can trigger cascading changes across multiple services.

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Carrier diversion strategies: A data-driven analysis

The five largest liner operators control a significant share of the global container fleet. They run extensive service loops linking Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Using vessel movement data from MarineTraffic Container Intelligence, we analysed 49 container ships operated by these carriers following the Strait of Hormuz disruption.

Three distinct routing strategies emerged:

• Continuing to sail into the Arabian Peninsula
• Diverting vessels within the Indian Ocean region
• Redirecting vessels completely outside the region

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The data makes one thing clear: carriers are responding very differently to the same disruption.

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Strategy 1: Diversion within the Arabian Peninsula

CMA CGM and COSCO are keeping vessels close, rerouting to alternative ports within the Arabian Peninsula rather than redirecting cargo further afield.

CMA CGM diverted 88% of analysed vessels toward the Arabian Peninsula, with 13% redirected toward the Indian Ocean. Vessels originally scheduled to call at specific Persian Gulf ports are instead rerouted to alternative regional gateways. Cargo is then redistributed onward. This strategy keeps cargo close to its final destination markets and limits the need for long-distance rerouting.

COSCO shows the most concentrated diversion pattern in the dataset, with 100% of analysed vessels directed toward the Arabian Peninsula. Rather than shifting cargo to distant hubs, COSCO appears to be pivoting port calls within the regional network. For shippers, this approach typically means shorter recovery times—cargo remains within the regional distribution system.

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Strategy 2: Regional diversion toward Indian Ocean hubs

MSC and Hapag-Lloyd are redirecting vessels toward Indian Ocean ports. 

MSC shows the largest operational split among the carriers analysed:

• 47% of vessels diverted toward Arabian Peninsula ports
• 53% toward the Indian Ocean region

With 19 vessels in the dataset, MSC accounts for the largest share of the fleet analysed. The split suggests that part of the cargo flow remains close to its destination. The remainder may be discharged at Indian Ocean hubs before being redirected toward Gulf markets—often introducing additional handling steps and longer transit times.

Hapag-Lloyd shows the strongest shift toward Indian Ocean diversion:

• 67% of vessels redirected to Indian Ocean hubs
• 17% toward Arabian Peninsula ports
• 17% outside the region entirely

Cargo originally bound for Gulf ports is discharged at Indian Ocean hubs before continuing toward its final destination. This approach maintains cargo flow while bypassing the disrupted corridor.

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Strategy 3: Long-range diversion outside the region

Maersk demonstrates the widest geographic spread. Of the 13 vessels analysed:

• 62% were directed toward Arabian Peninsula ports
• 8% toward Indian Ocean ports
• 31% redirected outside the region entirely

Longer-range diversions of this kind typically reflect deeper service rotation adjustments. Cargo may be reassigned to different trade loops or network segments before reaching its destination. For supply chain planners, this type of rerouting has the greatest impact on delivery timelines.

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Challenges for supply chains

Each carrier is reacting differently to the same disruption—and from a logistics perspective, that creates significant uncertainty.

Key operational impacts include:

• Two containers on different carriers can follow completely different routes
• Cargo destined for the same port may arrive days or weeks apart
• Transshipment risks multiply across the network
• Inland planning—trucking, rail, warehouse operations—becomes harder when ETAs cannot be relied upon

For companies moving large container volumes, these disruptions ripple into inventory planning, production schedules, and delivery commitments.

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The core challenge: Lack of ocean visibility

For logistics teams, the biggest challenge during disruptions is not the diversion itself. It is knowing what is happening early enough to respond.

Container shipping networks are complex. Carrier schedule updates frequently lag operational reality. Vessel rotations can change multiple times in a single week as network control centres adjust port calls and service loops.

Supply chain teams are left asking:

• Which container ships skipped their scheduled Gulf calls?
• Which terminals are now receiving additional vessel traffic?
• Will transshipment connections still work?

Without independent data across the global fleet, those questions are difficult to answer in time.

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The role of container tracking software and vessel intelligence

Tracking individual containers alone does not explain what is happening at the network level. Understanding how container ships are being rerouted across the entire fleet provides the context needed to anticipate what comes next.

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Why vessel-level intelligence matters

The most useful signals come from vessel movements across the entire container fleet:

• Current position
• Next declared port
• Actual port calls
• Terminal congestion levels
• Predicted schedules

Container Intelligence combines AIS vessel tracking, historical port call data, and predictive models to reconstruct where container ships are likely to go next. This makes it possible to identify network shifts as they happen—detecting a service that omits Jebel Ali, seeing multiple vessels redirect toward Salalah, identifying congestion building at alternative terminals. These are the insights that help logistics teams move from reactive to proactive.

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Terminal-level visibility: Where delays actually happen

Most disruption analysis focuses on ports. In practice, delays occur at the terminal level—where vessels berth, load, and discharge containers. When diverted ships begin arriving at alternative hubs, terminals can quickly become bottlenecks.

The operational indicators that matter:

• Waiting time at anchorage
• Berth occupancy
• Vessel turnaround time
• Queue length

Predicting where container ships will go next

Live vessel positioning is only part of the picture. For supply chain planning, predictive scheduling is still more valuable. By combining AIS signals with historical route patterns and schedule data, it becomes possible to forecast future port calls for container ships weeks in advance.

Predictive intelligence helps identify:

• Which ports are likely to receive diverted traffic
• Which services may skip certain calls
• Where congestion could emerge next

The bottom line

The Strait of Hormuz disruption illustrates how quickly fragile container shipping networks can be tested. When container ships divert, the effects extend far beyond a single port or trade lane. Cargo flows shift, transshipment patterns change, and congestion can emerge in locations no one planned for.

For logistics teams responsible for global supply chains, the challenge is no longer just tracking containers. It is understanding how the entire fleet is moving—and where it is heading next. With the right vessel intelligence and global fleet visibility, supply chains gain the clarity they need to respond before disruptions cascade downstream.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Strait of Hormuz, and why does it matter for container shipping?

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It serves as a critical transit point for container ships calling at major Gulf ports like Jebel Ali and Dammam. Disruptions here can force carriers to reroute vessels and alter service schedules.

How are the top five container carriers responding to the disruption?

Each carrier is responding differently. CMA CGM and COSCO are keeping vessels close to the Arabian Peninsula. MSC and Hapag-Lloyd are diverting toward Indian Ocean hubs. Maersk shows the widest geographic spread, with some vessels redirected entirely outside the region.

What is transshipment?

Transshipment refers to the transfer of cargo from one vessel to another at an intermediate port before reaching its final destination. During disruptions, transshipment connections can become unreliable as schedules shift.

How can container tracking software help during disruptions?

Kpler's advanced container tracking software provides visibility beyond individual container movements. It tracks vessel positions, predicts future port calls, and identifies congestion patterns across the global fleet—helping logistics teams respond before delays cascade downstream.

Which ports are absorbing diverted container traffic?

Indian Ocean hubs and alternative Arabian Peninsula ports are absorbing much of the diverted traffic. The specific ports vary by carrier strategy and service rotation.