MSC Launches Express Route to Bypass Blocked Strait of Hormuz

Mediterranean Shipping Company launched the Europe-Red Sea-Middle East Express on May 10 to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which has been severely restricted since February 28 following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. The service begins with a vessel departing from Antwerp and utilizes a hybrid sea-land transport model to maintain global trade flows.

Ships traveling from European ports pass through the Suez Canal to reach Red Sea ports, including Jordan's Aqaba and Saudi Arabia's Jeddah and King Abdullah Port. Cargo is then transported overland by truck across Saudi Arabia to Dammam on the east coast. From Dammam, feeder vessels redistribute the containers to gateways in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait.

This strategic shift reflects a broader industry trend as other major shipping firms implement similar landbridge solutions. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and Hapag-Lloyd AG have both established ground transport routes across Saudi Arabia and Oman to circumvent the maritime chokepoint and reduce exposure to high-risk zones amid escalating geopolitical tensions.