A sudden geopolitical shock is reshaping global shipping.
~470,000 TEU of container capacity is now effectively stranded in the Middle East Gulf.

That’s the scale of disruption emerging around the Strait of Hormuz as geopolitical tensions escalate. Over the past few days, the global container shipping industry has moved rapidly to protect vessels, crews, and cargo.

Key developments:
• 138 containerships caught in the region
• Major carriers suspending bookings to Persian Gulf ports
• War-risk surcharges up to $4,000 per container
• Vessels rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–14 days to transit times
• Multiple P&I Clubs and marine insurers withdrawing war-risk cover

The combination of Persian Gulf instability and ongoing Red Sea disruption is placing extraordinary pressure on global liner networks, supply chains, and insurance markets.

To better understand the situation, we analyzed the operational responses of 30 major container shipping lines in our latest research from Prudence Business School, prepared in collaboration with Prudence Insurance Brokers — a Lloyd’s of London Broker.