Hapag-Lloyd introduced temporary measures to facilitate continued cargo movement across the Gulf region. The measures address disruption to normal routing patterns caused by the ongoing Middle East situation.
The carrier is enabling alternative container handling options through selected regional gateway ports. Customers can move containers on merchant or carrier haulage basis.
Merchant haulage options include:
Customers routing export cargo via designated gateway ports may pick up empty containers free of charge from selected surplus locations. These include UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
Hapag-Lloyd requests customers take final delivery of cargo at the port of discharge as soon as possible. Customers may transport containers across borders to final delivery points in another Gulf country using their own transport arrangements. Empty containers must be returned to the original port of discharge. Drop-off charges apply if customers return empty containers at different locations.
Container deposits apply for all merchant movements. The deposits are $3,000 per 20-foot container, $5,500 per 40-foot container, and $15,000 per 40-foot reefer container. Local Customer Service teams will communicate details regarding the deposit and refund process.
Hapag-Lloyd will grant special additional free time of 10 days for merchant haulage moves at a flat rate of $25 per day. Standard tariffs apply after this period.
Customer Service teams will handle requests manually to ensure proper coordination. The arrangements do not apply to intra-Gulf trade movements within the same countries.
