18 July (Lloyd's List) - MAERSK has warned that the impact of the Red Sea crisis is spreading throughout the entire ocean network, leading to a number of challenges, including disruption risks for Oceania and container shortages on Asian routes.

The global shipping giant pointed out in a July market update that Oceania’s ocean network is being affected by congestion in Southeast Asian hubs, stemming from equipment shortages and limited capacity resulting from the disruptions in the Red Sea.

“The delays in Southeast Asian hubs pose a risk of disruption at Australian ports,” the company said. “Oceania exporters should factor in additional lead time as part of supply chain planning during this time.”

The efforts of ship redeployment are not enough to address the capacity shortage, Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc said.

“We are going to have in the coming month missing positions or ships that are sailing that are significant different size from what we normally would have on that string, which will also imply reduced ability for us to carry all the demand that there is.”

The equipment shortages are exacerbating supply chain inefficiencies, as the industry-wide container scarcity, which initially affected long-haul shipping, has now extended to intra-Asia routes, according to the company.

Liner companies, including Maersk, find themselves grappling with a challenging decision: whether to prioritise limited vessel capacity for transporting empty containers back to China or carrying loaded containers to other destinations.

This predicament, was described by Vespucci Maritime chief executive Lars Jensen in a social media post as a “contagion” effect, where high rates begin to impact not only the main trades, but also the backhaul and regional trades.

Maersk also noted that the upcoming typhoon season is anticipated to affect East China and South China, posing additional risks of congestion in the region.