Advisories Tags: Advisory

In light of the ongoing developments in the Middle East region, ESL has implemented additional precautionary and operational measures to ensure the continued safety of our vessels, crew, and your cargo. These necessary arrangements have led to increased operating costs across the network.

ESL has been making every effort to manage and mitigate the impact internally. However, in view of the prevailing conditions, a reasonable rate adjustment is required to ensure service stability and continuity. To ensure such stability and continuity further costs which ESL might incur may include and not be limited to costs or associated costs arising out of or in connection with delays, taking other routes, transferring the goods, landing or returning the goods to the port of loading as the case may be. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued partnership as we navigate this challenging environment together.

With effect from 3rd March 2026 and until further notice, the following adjustments will apply:

Scope

All cargo moving to or from:

• United Arab Emirates
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Oman
• Iraq
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Qatar
• Egypt
• Jordan

(All ports within the above countries are included.)

This adjustment applies to all cargo types, including both COC and SOC containers.

Quantum

An Emergency Cost Recovery Surcharge will be implemented as follows:

• USD 2,000 per 20’ and USD3,500 per 40’ for DRY
• USD 2,500 per 20’ and USD4,000 per 40’ for Reefer and Special

The charge is to be borne by the Agreement Party.

Effective Date & Application

This adjustment applies to:

• Cargo on water / afloat and yet to be discharged on/ after 03 March 2026

This adjustment will apply to all shipments to and from the countries referenced above.

ESL remains fully committed to maintaining service continuity and operational transparency during this challenging period. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates as necessary.

For further clarification, please contact your local ESL representative.

Thank you.

In light of the ongoing developments in the Middle East region, ESL has implemented additional precautionary and operational measures to ensure the continued safety of our vessels, crew, and your cargo. These necessary arrangements have led to increased operating costs across the network.

ESL has been making continued efforts to manage and mitigate the impact. However, in view of the prevailing conditions, a reasonable rate adjustment is required to ensure service stability and continuity. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued partnership as we navigate this challenging environment together.

With effect from 3rd March 2026 and until further notice, the following adjustments will apply:

Scope

All cargo moving to or from:

• United Arab Emirates
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Oman
• Iraq
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Qatar
• Egypt
• Jordan

(All ports within the above countries are included.)

This adjustment applies to all cargo types, including both COC and SOC containers.

Quantum

A General Rate Increase (GRI) will be implemented as follows:

• USD 2,000 per 20’ and USD3,500 per 40’ for DRY
• USD 2,500 per 20’ and USD4,000 per 40’ for Reefer and Special

The charge is to be borne by the Agreement Party.

Effective Date & Application

This adjustment applies to:

• Bookings issued on or after 3rd March 2026 
• Shipments not loaded

This adjustment will apply to all shipments to and from the countries referenced above.

ESL remains fully committed to maintaining service continuity and operational transparency during this challenging period. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates, as necessary.

For further clarification, please contact your local ESL representative.

Thank you.

As you are aware, the escalating military conflict in the Middle East has created a volatile environment that directly impacts the global supply chain.

At ESL, our first priority is the safety of crew and the security of your cargo. We understand the stress and uncertainty these disruptions can cause your business, and we are committed to navigating these challenges as your reliable partner, as far as we are able to do.

To ensure the continuity of your business, we are proactively exploring the activation of our contingency networks by leveraging our established regional presence in ports located outside the Strait of Hormuz as viable operational alternatives to cater to the region.

While we continue to explore alternatives to ensure business continuity, it is important to acknowledge that prevailing regional conditions are beyond our control. We, therefore, reserve the right to invoke relevant Terms and Conditions under our Bill of Lading, which includes and is not limited to clauses 4 and 8 in our standard ESL form; this applies not only to our liability and original delivery schedules but also to the nature and implementation of our contingency efforts, including logistical alterations, including but not limited to the redirection of cargo and the utilization of alternative discharge/loading ports and transit routes involving all of our existing partners, for the benefit of our customers.

The following vessels are maintaining safe positions within the Arabian Persian Gulf in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz:

• MV Hella 02606 (VGI): Maintains its position at the Port of Jebel Ali. Port operations have been suspended / intermittent since late evening 28^th Feb 2026. We are finalizing our contingency plan and will update you as soon as it is ready.
• ESL Wafa 02605 (GLX): The vessel is currently safely positioned inside the Gulf, but away from the Strait of Hormuz, following its departure from Dammam. The port call in Bahrain has been suspended following the closure of port and gate operations at the Port of Bahrain.We will provide you the latest updates as soon as there are any changes in the situation, and as soon as this information becomes available to us.

The following is the status of vessels currently enroute to the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf:

• Bright 02609 (GIA): The Vessel departed Mundra at 20:00 hours on 28^th Feb 2026. The Vessel will not enter the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. ESL is currently doing its best in the current prevailing circumstances to finalize the contingency plans for all imports and exports planned for this vessel.
• ASL Nanjing 02610 (GRC): The Vessel departed Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 25^th Feb 2026 and is safely stationed outside the Straits of Hormuz. ESL is working diligently under the current circumstances to finalize contingency plans for all imports and exports scheduled on this vessel.
• ESL Sana 02605 (CMX): The Vessel departed Singapore on 22^nd Feb 2026 upon completion of operations. ESL is currently exploring alternative ports of discharge for shipments planned for transhipment / discharge at Jebel Ali relating to this vessel.

We will share these specific details with you as soon as they are confirmed. In the meantime, we are maintaining a 24/7 watch on the evolving regional situation to protect your interests and provide you with the most accurate, real-time information, as and when such information becomes available to us.

Thank you for your continued trust and patience as we navigate these challenges together.

To ensure we continue offering a diverse portfolio of high-quality services from the Far East to
the Middle East, please be informed of the upcoming General Rate Increase (GRI), effective
for ONE REASSURANCE 2608W and subsequent vessels

For further information and bookings, please reach out to our local Sales and Customer Service
Representatives.

Thank you.

As part of the Lunar New Year plan, capacity will be rationalised due to reduced export
activity over the holiday period. Accordingly, there will be a blank sailing on SCX affecting
Apollon D v.2610E – 2610W.

Service will resume on the following voyage ESL Mombasa v.2612E.

For further information and bookings, please reach out to our local Sales and Customer
Service Representatives.

Thank you.

We wish to inform you that with immediate effect, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that indicate storage temperature conditions will not be considered valid for Dangerous Goods cargo intended to be loaded in standard dry containers.

Please note the following important points:

• Temperature control requirements apply only to cargo transported in active temperature-controlled units (reefer equipment)
• Dry containers do not provide temperature regulation and are suitable only for cargo safe under normal ambient conditions
• Where storage temperature is mentioned in the MSDS, the cargo may be treated as requiring controlled conditions and refused for dry container loading

Accordingly, for DG cargo intended to move in dry containers, MSDS documents must clearly confirm suitability for transport under ambient conditions and must not include storage temperature control requirements.

Any shipment submitted with MSDS indicating storage temperature conditions will be subject to rejection for dry container loading to avoid vessel refusal, safety concerns, and operational delays.

We kindly request your cooperation in ensuring compliant documentation is provided at the time of DG submission to facilitate smooth cargo acceptance and carriage.

Thank you.

Please be informed that an Environmental Fuel Surcharge (EFS) as per below; will be imposed based on the Very Low Sulphur fuel price of between USD400 to USD450 per ton with effective from 1st Mar 2026.

The Environmental Fuel Surcharge (EFS) will be reviewed on monthly basis for necessary adjustment in line with below Matrix and implemented with an advance notice to customers.

Please contact our local Sales and Customer Service team for bookings and any further assistance.

Thank you.