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Middle East missile strikes begin impacting container services
2025-06-16 13:39

Middle East missile strikes begin impacting container services

by Destine Ozuygur •
Middle East missile strikes begin impacting container services

As feared, the danger-zone for vessels appears to be rapidly growing beyond Houthi-controlled waters and now includes the strait of Hormuz. While carriers are still far from exercising a blanket ban on the affected ports or advertising these actions in press releases, we noted the first signs of impact over the weekend.

Today we were able to confirm that CMA’s CMA - LMX service has been both renamed and rerouted. The Europe - Middle East service is dropping calls to Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, and Jubail and adding an additional call to Ambarli. The new service is now marketed as the CMA - LRX, or Levant Red Sea Express.

CMA CGM is uniquely at the forefront of intrigue for our team when it comes to the latest escalations between Iran and Israel, and ongoing threats from the Houthi militia. The French carrier has been often seen in the regional spotlight since their possible return to expanded Suez Canal routings was teased back in November 2024.

Adding tension to today’s discovery of the LMX suspension, the recent increase of planned Suez Canal activity for CMA voyages is now being followed with greater curiosity. Here are a few examples of the vessels and services we are tracking closely that may provide early indicators of further schedule disruptions:

  • The carrier announced as recently as May 28 that the CMA - MEDEX service would resume transit through the Suez by late June. The proforma schedules and forecasts have been updated in our database. The new rotation includes planned calls to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi, as well as a 21 day reduction in total roundtrip turnaround.
  • The CMA CGM PELLEAS, a CMA - MEDEX vessel currently passing through Arabian Sea, is giving the Strait of Hormuz an extra wide berth. Heading for Jeddah, and then onward to the Suez Canal by June 28, the vessel has turned off their Next Port signal in order to mitigate easy detection.
  • While the CMA - EPIC service has not seen confirmation of a systemic return to the Suez, the 11K TEU CMA CGM AQUILA is forecasted to make an inducement today, June 16. It remains to be seen if its succeeding calls to Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali will be omitted in the coming days.
  • The CMA - MEX assigned CMA CGM JULES VERNE which is on route from Malta to Jeddah will also be making an inducement passage through the Suez on June 20.

Please feel free to reach out to our team for minute-by-minute updates and more operational insights at contact@eesea.com. You can keep up with our continued coverage of developing stories on our News & Analysis page or by following us on Linkedin.

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