Maersk Keeps Ships on Longer Detours Despite Two‑Week Ceasefire for Strait of Hormuz

Maersk, the world’s second‑largest container line, said on April 8 it will continue routing ships around the Arabian Peninsula despite a provisional two‑week ceasefire between the United States and Iran that includes terms for limited safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

In an advisory on its website, the Danish company welcomed the ceasefire but said it would take “a cautious approach” and was not changing services immediately. “The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty, and we need to understand all potential conditions attached,” Maersk said.

The carrier said information available about the truce was "very limited" and that it was working “with urgency to obtain further clarity.” It added that decisions on whether to send ships through Hormuz will rest on continuous risk assessments, monitoring of the security situation and guidance from relevant authorities and partners, and stressed that the safety of seafarers, vessels and cargo is its highest priority.

What the ceasefire says

The United States and Iran announced a provisional two‑week halt in hostilities on April 7–8. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, posted that safe passage through the strait would be possible during that period “via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.” That language indicates any reopening is conditional, time‑limited and reliant on military coordination.

Why carriers remain cautious

For commercial shipowners and insurers, conditional, short‑term assurances fall short of the stable, rules‑based environment normally needed to resume routine transits through a conflict zone. Since March, carriers have rerouted vessels, introduced emergency surcharges and warned customers to expect delays as the strait became effectively impassable for routine traffic.

Industry insiders say restoration of war‑risk and hull insurance is a critical precondition for normal operations. During the flare‑up, insurers extended high‑risk zones to include parts of the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf, sharply raising costs or removing cover in some cases. Until insurers restore coverage or adjust premiums, many owners are unlikely to send large commercial tonnage into areas designated as high risk.

Broader operational and market effects

Other major carriers signaled that even after security stabilizes, a return to normal traffic will take weeks. Hapag‑Lloyd estimated a six‑ to eight‑week period for network normalisation once conditions allow, reflecting rerouting, port congestion and schedule disruption that cannot be unwound instantly.

Financial markets reacted quickly when the truce was announced: oil prices fell and stock indexes rose. But analysts note a two‑week pause — negotiated under pressure and conditioned on military coordination — does not by itself guarantee uninterrupted flows or that companies will regain confidence.

For manufacturers and retailers relying on just‑in‑time supply chains, continued emergency routings — which often divert ships around the Cape of Good Hope — mean longer transit times and elevated freight rates. That can complicate inventory planning and, in some cases, increase prices for finished goods.

Energy markets remain vulnerable. Even limited tanker transits during the ceasefire could ease immediate pressures, but any new incident could prompt a rapid market reversal if shipowners or insurers pull back.

Human cost and international response

The International Maritime Organization has said thousands of vessels and around 20,000 seafarers were directly affected by earlier closures and disruptions in and near the strait, with some crews stranded for extended periods. IMO Secretary‑General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed the ceasefire on April 8 and said he was working with relevant parties to implement a mechanism to ensure safe transit.

What would restore routine traffic

Shipping executives and insurers say a credible mechanism — whether agreed corridors, naval escorts, or an international framework that insurers and flag states can endorse — would be central to a broader resumption of traffic. Clear rules of engagement for ships, reliable communication channels, and restored war‑risk and hull coverage are likely prerequisites.

Near‑term outlook

The ceasefire and Iran’s commitment to coordinated safe passage are scheduled to last two weeks under the terms announced. In that window, carriers and insurers will watch whether hostilities remain paused, whether clear transit rules are published, and whether insurance markets adjust.

Maersk’s stance underscores how cautious major operators remain: without what it calls “full maritime certainty,” the Strait of Hormuz is being treated not as a reopened artery of global trade but as a cautiously tested corridor. The aftershocks of the crisis — from higher freight rates to delayed shipments and disrupted supply chains — are likely to persist beyond the immediate ceasefire period.