On March 1 local time, an oil tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz was struck and began sinking.

Earlier, on the evening of February 28, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had announced a ban on all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

With shipping activities in the Strait of Hormuz now completely halted, the waterway has effectively been closed, putting the global energy “artery” at risk of being severed.

Against this backdrop, global shipping giant Maersk issued an urgent notice on March 1.

Maersk announced that due to the ongoing deterioration of security conditions resulting from escalating military conflicts in the Middle East, and in close coordination with security partners, it has decided to temporarily suspend future Suez Canal routes transiting the Strait of Mandeb.

Effective immediately, all Middle East–India to Mediterranean routes (ME11) and Middle East–India to U.S. East Coast routes (MECL) will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope.