Maersk Suspends Haifa Operations Amid Security Threats
Danish shipping giant Maersk has temporarily halted its vessel calls to Israel’s Haifa port in response to heightened security tensions between Iran and Israel. According to the company, there have been no further disruptions to its broader regional operations, reinforcing Haifa's continued operational status despite the pause.
This decision follows escalating missile and drone strikes by Iranian Revolutionary Guards on Haifa and Tel Aviv, alongside an increased maritime threat level from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which included a provoked maritime blockade declaration aimed at Haifa earlier this year.
The cost of war-risk insurance for voyages to Israeli ports has increased significantly, rising from approximately 0.2 percent of vessel value a week ago to between 0.7 and 1.0 percent for a seven-day call. This translates into tens of thousands of dollars in additional daily costs per voyage.
Although all port terminals in Haifa remain operational, nearly 30 vessels are currently anchored offshore as a precaution, reinforcing the maritime sector’s growing caution toward shipping in the region.
The sudden suspension of Haifa calls by Maersk highlights a widening friction point for global supply chains. As war-risk premiums and freight rates continue to climb, logistics operators are facing sharply elevated costs and the pressure to reroute vessels. Recent data shows rates through strategic corridors like the Strait of Hormuz have surged by more than 60 percent amid the tensions, further taxing energy and raw material flows.
In this volatile geopolitical setting, shipping companies are implementing enhanced risk controls, including real-time intelligence monitoring, rerouting around high-risk ports, and reinforcing war-risk insurance coverage. Maersk’s proactive halt serves as a wake‑up call across the industry, underscoring the necessity for resilient route planning, cost buffers, and rigorous security protocols.
Maersk’s pause at Haifa reflects a growing trend of supply chain red flags in maritime logistics, driven by intensifying regional hostilities. This development is likely to influence shipping strategies, insurance markets, and freight operations well beyond the eastern Mediterranean.
