Denmark-based Maersk Line will begin container shipments to Qatar from Oman, avoiding trade restrictions imposed on the Gulf state by Arab countries, it said on Friday. The first feeder shipment is expected to depart from Salalah, Oman, on June 19th and arrive in Doha on June 25th. Maersk Line plans to make this service available every 10 days, but will not accept new bookings for Qatar until further notice.
Qatar is building a new port complex that will be able to accept large container ships by 2020, but until now most cargo was delivered to Qatar either by land from Saudi Arabian ports or by feeder vessels, mainly through Jebel Ali. However, Jebel Ali port, is now closed to Qatari-flagged vessels, and cargo cannot be unloaded if it is destined for Qatar.