Maersk says 10 of its ships are trapped in the Persian Gulf after fighting made the Strait of Hormuz unsafe, while US forces moved warships and aircraft to escort commercial vessels out. US Central Command said American forces destroyed six Iranian small boats, intercepted cruise missiles and used undersea drones to clear a path for shipping. Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc said at least one of the group's ships is operating under charter to the US Military Sealift Command and that crew safety is the top priority. Oil prices rose and shipping firms warned of long delays and extra costs to global supply chains.
Maersk, the Danish shipping giant, says 10 of its vessels remain effectively trapped in the Persian Gulf after months of fighting made passage through the Strait of Hormuz unsafe. Vincent Clerc, Maersk chief executive, told media the ships were kept offshore and away from ports considered exposed to attack. He said the group's immediate priority is the safety of crews, vessels and customer cargo.
That comes as US Central Command reported a stepped-up military effort to protect commercial shipping. Admiral Brad Cooper, Central Command chief, said US forces destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones while engaging in the contested waterway. Cooper said American forces were actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping.
What the US did
On Monday, Central Command said two US destroyers were operating in the Gulf after transiting the strait. The command added that two US-flagged merchant vessels were safely under way. President Donald Trump announced Project Freedom, described as a US effort to guide ships from "neutral and innocent" countries out of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump warned any interference would be met forcefully.
Central Command also said undersea drones had been used to clear a path for ships. Rules of engagement were altered to allow strikes on immediate threats to vessels crossing the strait, such as fast-attack boats or missile batteries, the command said. Those changes are designed to create protected routes for commercial traffic while US forces operate nearby to support escorted transits.
Maersk's position and industry strain
Maersk said at least one of its affected ships is operating under charter to the US Military Sealift Command. The company has suspended or rerouted some Gulf-related services and is using alternative hubs to stage cargo until traffic can safely pass through Hormuz again.
Clerc said normal operating conditions could take between one week and 10 days to restore even after movements restart.
Industry sources at a Connecticut shipping conference told delegates the broader impact is severe. They said thousands of merchant seafarers and hundreds of vessels are idle in and around the Gulf. Airlines have suspended services to parts of the region, which has made crew changes and logistics harder. Carriers have also introduced emergency surcharges to cover diversion and delay costs.
Markets reacted immediately. Fortune reported US stock indexes fell and US oil futures jumped around 3.5%, while Brent crude rose about 5.7% as supply concerns spiked. The effective disruption of the strait has denied access to roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows, analysts say, and that strain has fed into higher energy prices.
Maersk has chosen to group its vessels offshore and keep them away from exposed ports. Clerc said the company will only resume normal sailings when it's confident safety conditions can be guaranteed.
Rules, risk and reluctance
Many shipping companies remain cautious. Sources told Axios there's no plan for widespread naval escorts beyond the current operations, though warships and aircraft are positioned nearby. Most carriers are reluctant to resume normal transits until fighting stops and the security picture clears. That reluctance means energy flows and other cargoes could stay constrained even while some escorted transits happen.
Maersk has chosen to group its vessels offshore and keep them away from exposed ports. Clerc said the company will only resume normal sailings when it's confident safety conditions can be guaranteed. In the meantime, cargo
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Clerc said it could take one week to 10 days to restore normal sailings.
This article was created with AI assistance.
