Status Update: Middle East Port Operations

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advising of a number of changes to port operations following the announcement that The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain have severed diplomatic ties with Qatar.

Saudis Port Authority (SPA) has confirmed that:

• No vessels will be allowed coming from or going to Qatar, regardless of the vessels' flag or owner’s nationality. (However, the inward and outward clearance of all ships in Qatar ports is currently continuing to operate as normal.)
• Vessels already in port and destined for Qatar as their next destination will not receive Port clearance.
• No vessel under the Qatar flag will be allowed in Saudi Ports regardless of their destination and last Port.

In addition:

• The Ports and Maritime Affairs at Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications Bahrain has stated that all Bahrain Ports and territorial waters will remain suspended for marine navigation from and to the State of Qatar with effect from today (Tuesday 6 June).
• The Das Port Authority (UAE) has been instructed that all vessels flying the flag of Qatar, and all vessels arriving from or destined to Qatar irrespective of its flag, are banned from calling into any Abu Dhabi Petroleum Port.
• Until further notice, the Port of Fujairah has advised that vessels destined to or arriving from Qatar ports are not permitted to call at the Port of Fujairah and Fujairah Offshore Anchorage, regardless of the nature of their call (Notice To Mariners No. 224).

Further operational information:

• The single land border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia is currently open/operational but this could close at any time.
• Currently all flights to/from Qatar with Emirates, Etihad, Saudi and Gulf Air are cancelled
• Suez Canal – The Suez Canal Authority has advised that vessels flying the Qatari flag transiting the Suez Canal will not face restrictions as Suez Canal is an international water passage.

ISS is working with its clients to keep them updated.