As of 12:00 on March 9, 2026, the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has entered its 8th day, with nearly all two-way commercial shipping at a standstill, directly causing large-scale congestion of container vessels in the Persian Gulf.
Real-time updated data from the platform shows that a total of 83 container ships are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf waters and surrounding ports. Among them, Jebel Ali Port, the core hub in the Middle East, has seen vessel waiting times reach up to 280+ hours (over 11 days), and the crisis of supply chain disruption continues to intensify.
Jebel Ali Port: "Port Resumption" Does Not Equal "Vessel Berthing"
Data shows that after the conflict broke out, the average delay in cargo shipment at Jebel Ali Port increased from 0.7 days to 4.2 days, and the delay in cargo arrival rose from 1.8 days to 5.7 days.
For the container ship APL EAGLE, which has been waiting for 280 hours, 5.7 days is merely a fraction of its total waiting time.
Vessel detention generally ranges from 120 to 280 hours. Cargo on board cannot be transshipped, and shippers are facing huge losses from demurrage charges.
Strait of Hormuz: "Near-Blockade" for 8 Consecutive Days
Two-way traffic is nearly suspended for the 7th consecutive day. Over the past 24 hours, only 1 Iran-related bulk carrier exited the Persian Gulf, with no vessels entering the Gulf.
Last non-Iranian merchant vessel: Chinese bulk carrier Sino Ocean transited early on March 7, marking the second ship with a Chinese shipowner to successfully pass after the Iron Lady.
Traffic collapse: Normal daily average ≈ 138 vessels; now down to fewer than 8 per day – a 94% plunge. Only Iranian vessels maintain minimal traffic.
Persistent security threat: Frequent missile and drone activities; Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) maintains highest threat level.
Middle East lane market: Rates surging continuously; shipowners imposing heavy surcharges.
Carrier actions: Major global lines have suspended transits through the Strait of Hormuz and new bookings to the Middle East (including Jebel Ali Port). All in-transit vessels are rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope, extending one-way voyages by 10–14 days and pushing per-container costs up by over $3,000.
Surcharges imposed: ONE, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, etc., have levied relevant fees:
l Standard containers: $1,500–3,000/box
l ONE 40’ reefer containers: up to $3,400/box
l Special containers: even higher premiums
Freight rate surge:
l Persian Gulf (Dubai) lane: 72.34% weekly jump to $2,287 for 20’GP
l Some Red Sea lanes: soaring from $3,000/box to $10,000/box, in a market of “high prices with limited availability”