A.P. Moller–Maersk has begun redistributing bunker fuel across its global fleet as the ongoing conflict involving Iran disrupts marine fuel supply chains and bunkering operations in the Middle East.
The Danish shipping giant said the war has affected the flow and storage of maritime fuel in the region, forcing the company to move fuel between vessels and source alternative bunkering supplies to maintain operations across its liner network.
According to the company, several vessels remain stranded in the Gulf as hostilities and security risks continue to disrupt shipping movements near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies normally pass.
Fuel infrastructure in the region has also been affected by attacks and operational disruptions, tightening the availability of bunker fuel used by container ships. In response, Maersk said it is proactively reallocating fuel supplies and securing alternative sources from other regions to ensure vessels can refuel and maintain service reliability.
The disruption to marine fuel supply has broader implications for the shipping industry, where fuel accounts for a major share of operating costs. Shipping analysts note that the ongoing conflict is already contributing to higher freight rates and additional surcharges as carriers adjust to longer routes, higher insurance premiums and volatile fuel prices.
Maersk warned that if the crisis continues to affect energy and shipping infrastructure in the Gulf, fuel shortages in Asia and the Middle East could become a growing challenge for global container shipping networks.