The Swiss firm Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), recognized as the world’s leading container shipping operator, has devised a novel shipping lane connecting Europe with the Middle East, bypassing the currently obstructed Strait of Hormuz. This information was reported by Bloomberg, citing the company itself. The inaugural transit along this fresh route is scheduled for May 10th.
MSC’s devised passage involves navigation through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, followed by unloading at two coastal locations on Saudi Arabia’s western seaboard: Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). Subsequently, cargo is slated for overland transport via trucking to the Saudi city of Dammam, situated on the Persian Gulf coast—a distance approximating 1,300 kilometers. From Dammam, smaller vessels are intended to ferry the goods onward to various Persian Gulf ports, including Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali, near Dubai.
As noted by Bloomberg, incorporating a significant land-based segment into cargo delivery will inevitably result in increased expenses, longer transit times, and a reduced environmental friendliness compared to the standard sea-only routing. Nevertheless, given the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has persisted for upwards of two months, numerous firms are compelled to utilize such alternative transport methods. The German container carrier Hapag-Lloyd previously announced its work on an overland path traversing Saudi Arabia and Oman. Furthermore, the Danish entity Moller-Maersk has also indicated its development of terrestrial routes within the area.
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