Strait of Hormuz disruption: Which container vessels are trapped, waiting, or diverting?

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical chokepoints in global shipping. Roughly 20% of global oil flows and a significant share of regional container trade pass through this narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. 

Following the escalation on February 28, container shipping operations across the Gulf entered a state of uncertainty, so we analysed the movements of container ships connected to Gulf services since the incident using MarineTraffic’s Container Intelligence platform.

Current operational state of container shipping

Following the regional escalation, carriers paused new bookings, vessels slowed or stopped near the strait, and some services began diverting.

The picture that emerges is clear:

• Some vessels are effectively trapped inside the Gulf
• Others are waiting outside for instructions
• Several services have already diverted

Fleet snapshot: Vessel status by category

Our analysis tracked container vessels operating on Gulf services between February 28 and March 4. They fall into several operational categories:

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These movements reveal how carriers are responding operationally and where bottlenecks are forming.

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Vessels currently trapped in the Persian Gulf

The most operationally sensitive group comprises vessels inside the Gulf whose next port lies outside the region. These ships cannot continue their rotations until transit through the Strait of Hormuz becomes possible.

Examples of trapped vessels

• MSC PANAYA (MSC)—heading toward Vizhinjam, India
• W KITHIRA (Maersk)—scheduled for Colombo, Sri Lanka
• TEMA EXPRESS (Hapag-Lloyd)—bound for Mundra, India
• ONE MAJESTY (ONE)—planned to sail to Mundra, India
• CMA CGM KRIBI (CMA CGM)—next call Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo

For cargo owners outside the region, this creates immediate uncertainty. Containers onboard cannot continue toward Asia, Africa, or Europe until the vessels exit.

How many ships are still inside the Gulf?

Our container intelligence reveals a significant cluster of container ships remaining within the Persian Gulf. Among the top five carriers:

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Many of these vessels are waiting because their next planned calls are ports within the Gulf:

• Jebel Ali
• Khalifa
• Dammam
• Hamad
• Umm Qasr

This does not mean operations inside the Gulf continue normally. While some vessels still have scheduled calls at Gulf ports, activity is significantly reduced. Many ships hold offshore rather than approaching terminals, positioning themselves outside potential strike zones as port infrastructure remains at risk.

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Carrier responses: Different approaches to the disruption

Carriers respond differently depending on their network structure and operational priorities.

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MSC: Most proactive in rerouting

MSC appears to take the most decisive approach. Out of 18 vessels linked to Gulf services, 15 have already diverted to alternative ports.

Three vessels still report Gulf ports as their next destination in AIS data:

• MSC ANAHITA—currently east of Panama, reporting destination Khalifa (UAE) with ETA April 3 (Indusa Service)
• MSC ILARIA—currently off East Africa, heading northbound, reporting destination Khalifa (UAE) with ETA March 7 (Lion Service)
• MSC MARIACRISTINA—currently crossing Malacca Strait, heading westbound, reporting destination Jebel Ali with ETA March 13 (New Falcon Service)

MSC is still working on final contingency and rerouting plans. We expect all mentioned vessels to divert with new destinations published in the coming days.

MSC also has 12 vessels inside the Gulf, including MSC MADELEINE, MSC MARGRIT XIII, and MSC QINGDAO. These vessels are already operating inside the Persian Gulf, meaning their immediate options are limited to intra-Gulf calls until they can safely exit the region.

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CMA CGM: Majority of vessels already diverted

CMA CGM has largely moved its fleet away from Gulf calls. Most vessels originally scheduled to call ports in the region have already diverted to alternative destinations.

Examples of vessels that changed destination since February 28:

• CMA CGM NEVADA
• CMA CGM DON PASCUALE
• SEASPAN OCEANIA

At the time of writing, only one CMA CGM vessel—APL HOLLAND—still reports a Gulf port as its next destination.

Maersk: Similar pattern of diversions

Maersk vessels display a similar operational split, with roughly half of the ships already diverted and others still sailing toward the Strait while awaiting updated instructions.

• MAERSK BALTIMORE—currently inside the Gulf and unable to exit
• MAERSK ATLANTA—diverted to an alternative destination
• MAERSK SENTOSA—continuing toward the Strait of Hormuz

Ships still approaching the Strait appear to maintain course while carriers assess whether rerouting will be necessary.

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Ships waiting to enter the Gulf

Several vessels approaching the region hold position rather than entering. These ships have Gulf ports listed as destinations but are currently not moving toward the Strait.

• LISBON EXPRESS (Hapag-Lloyd)
• SEASPAN GANGES (Hapag-Lloyd)
• SEASPAN JAKARTA (Maersk)
• DP WORLD CHENNAI (Unifeeder)

These vessels appear to await operational instructions from carriers before committing to the passage.

Some ships escaped just in time

A small number of vessels managed to leave the Gulf shortly before or after the disruption began:

• CMA CGM PELLEAS (CMA CGM)
• SLS TOPAZ (Maersk)
• HMM GAON (Hyundai Merchant Marine)
• KMTC MUMBAI (Korea Marine Transport)

These ships were still inside the Gulf during the early hours of February 28 but successfully transited the Strait before the situation became critical.

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Implications for supply chains

From a logistics perspective, the implications differ depending on where your cargo is headed.

If your cargo is inside the Gulf:

• Cargo may still move between Gulf ports once terminal operations normalise
• Export cargo bound for Asia, Europe, or Africa will likely face delays until vessels can exit the region

If your cargo is outside the Gulf:

• Cargo onboard vessels trapped inside the Gulf may face significant delays, as ships cannot complete their rotations
• For cargo booked with MSC, shipments will be discharged at the next available port and placed into the custody of the shipper—following the carrier's announcement that voyages to Gulf destinations are considered ended

Financial impact

Several carriers have introduced substantial emergency surcharges on all cargo linked to the Gulf region. These apply both to shipments bound for ports inside the Gulf and to cargo moving on services that normally transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The full disruption may not appear immediately. The real effects are likely to surface in the coming weeks, when vessels unable to exit the Gulf begin to disrupt downstream service loops and create cascading delays across global container networks.

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Why vessel-level visibility matters

Disruptions like this highlight a fundamental issue in container shipping visibility. Traditional tracking tools rely heavily on carrier updates, which often lag behind actual vessel movements.

With AIS-based vessel intelligence, supply chain teams can see operational changes in near real time:

• Vessels slowing or stopping
• Routes changing
• Ships waiting outside chokepoints
• Services being rerouted

MarineTraffic combines independent AIS data with predictive vessel schedules to provide visibility into vessel movements and upcoming port calls weeks in advance. Container Intelligence surfaces route changes, holding patterns, and diversions before carriers publish schedule updates—allowing teams to act earlier.

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What happens next?

The next few days will determine how severe the disruption becomes. Two scenarios are possible:

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Scenario 1: Rapid stabilisation

• Vessels resume transit
• Only minor schedule delays occur

Scenario 2: Network restructuring due to extended closure

• Carriers suspend Gulf calls
• Cargo is transshipped through nearby hubs such as Salalah or Khor Fakkan
• Cascading service disruptions appear across Asia–Middle East routes

If tensions persist, the industry could face cascading delays, rising freight and insurance costs, and major schedule disruptions across Asia–Middle East trade lanes and beyond.

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The bottom line

The Strait of Hormuz disruption is already affecting container shipping operations. Container intelligence data shows vessels trapped inside the Gulf, ships waiting outside the Strait, and diversions increasing across several services.

As the situation evolves, the movements of individual vessels will be the earliest signal of how deep the disruption will run. Any sustained instability in this critical chokepoint can quickly ripple through global shipping networks.

In fast-moving crises like this, the companies that see disruptions first are the ones that can act before the rest of the market reacts. Supply chain teams that use real-time container intelligence technology can track affected vessels, identify diversions and congestion early, and anticipate schedule changes weeks ahead. The vessel intelligence used in this analysis is available directly in the MarineTraffic platform, allowing users to see the situation unfold in real time and monitor how disruptions impact specific vessels, services, and trade routes.

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Frequently asked questions

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What should cargo owners do if their shipments are affected?

Contact your carrier or freight forwarder immediately to confirm the status of your shipment. Request updated ETAs and discuss alternative routing options. If your cargo is on a vessel trapped inside the Gulf, prepare for potential delays of several weeks.

How can companies mitigate delays?

• Monitor vessel positions using Kpler or similar AIS-based container tracking software rather than relying solely on carrier updates
• Identify alternative sourcing or inventory buffers for critical components
• Communicate proactively with customers about potential delays
• Review insurance coverage for supply chain disruptions

Which alternative ports might carriers use?

Carriers may transship cargo through nearby hubs such as Salalah (Oman) or Khor Fakkan (UAE). However, these alternative hubs are not designed to absorb the same container volumes handled by major gateways such as Jebel Ali. A large-scale shift of cargo flows would likely create significant congestion.

Disclaimer: All vessel movements, routes, and operational statuses referenced in this analysis are based on AIS intelligence and publicly available information, curated to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. The situation in the region is evolving rapidly, and vessel positions, destinations, and carrier decisions may change at short notice.