Marseille-based container shipping line CMA CGM is deploying emergency multimodal solutions for its customers to support supply chains in the United Arab Emirates and the northern Gulf (Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait) without transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.

Given the situation in the Middle East and the restrictions affecting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, CMA CGM Group said in its latest advisory to its clients that it is deploying alternative multimodal solutions combining maritime, rail and road transport in order to maintain the fluidity of logistics flows despite the situation in Hormuz.

Secure logistics corridors via the United Arab Emirates

Located south of the Strait of Hormuz, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah and Sohar serve as strategic entry points for cargo flows destined for the Gulf.

From these ports, CMA CGM offers logistics corridors serving the main hubs of the United Arab Emirates (Khalifa, Jebel Ali, Sharjah), and other countries bordering the Arabian Gulf through a combination of regional land and maritime transport.

An alternative road corridor via Saudi Arabia

The port of Jeddah, located on the Red Sea, also provides an alternative to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

From Jeddah, CMA CGM is deploying road corridors, with or without a maritime connection, to handle onward transportation to Saudi Arabia (Dammam), the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq.

According to CMA CGM, this setup also enables cargo flows to be connected to the Mediterranean and Asia without exposure to the Strait.

An additional road solution via the Sultanate of Oman

CMA CGM also relies on Omani ports to offer a third major road bypass solution. These ports enable road connections to the United Arab Emirates and links to the Upper Gulf combining road and feeder services.