Iraqi Line’s Gulf return: 902-TEU shuttle revives 50-year-old trade link
Iraq’s national carrier deploys the 902-TEU Basrah on an eight-day Jebel Ali–Umm Qasr shuttle amid Hormuz crisis.
Iraq’s national shipping carrier has relaunched regular container services in the Gulf for the first time in over 50 years, marking a strategic shift in the country’s maritime trade amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iraqi Maritime Line has deployed the Basrah, a 902-TEU vessel, on an eight-day shuttle route connecting Jebel Ali in Dubai with Umm Qasr, Iraq’s main container port. The first sailing departed Jebel Ali on 15 October 2026, with an expected arrival in Umm Qasr two days later. This initiative, directed by Transport Minister Wahab Salman Mohammed, aims to boost cargo flows through Iraqi ports and strengthen the national carrier’s role in regional trade.
The last time Iraqi-flagged vessels operated regularly in the Gulf was in the mid-1960s, making this a historic return for the country’s maritime sector. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport described the move as part of broader efforts to reactivate national carriers and expand their presence in shipping routes.
A.P. Møller-Maersk
“The return is intended to increase cargo flows through Iraqi ports, support regional trade, and expand the national carrier’s presence across regional shipping routes.”
Iraqi Ministry of Transport
Supply chain shifts amid Hormuz disruptions: iraqi maritime line
The resumption of Iraqi services comes as the Strait of Hormuz crisis, which began at the end of February 2026, continues to reshape regional supply chains. With the strait becoming increasingly hazardous for commercial shipping, carriers have sought alternative routes to maintain trade flows into Iraq.
Jordan’s Red Sea port of Aqaba has emerged as a key transit hub, handling 37,182 Iraq-bound containers in the first seven months of 2026, a 933% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Major shipping lines, including Maersk and CMA CGM, have introduced landbridge services connecting Aqaba to Iraq via the Trebil border crossing. CMA CGM has also offered alternative routings through Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah, Oman, and the UAE, while Hapag-Lloyd has implemented a multimodal solution involving Khorfakkan, Sharjah, and Jebel Ali.
Despite these workarounds, the Basrah’s shuttle provides Iraq with a direct national connection to Jebel Ali, the region’s largest container hub. However, vessels on this route must still navigate the Strait of Hormuz, meaning the service will complement rather than replace overland alternatives that have become vital for Iraqi imports.
Sign up free to ask CAMAL AI for a summary, the key points or anything else about this story.
Related stories
CAMAL AI
Financial Ports Newsletter
The maritime economy, every morning
Ports, shipping and freight markets in one short email. Free.
