Here is a rewritten version of the blog post with a polished and professional tone<br><br>**Shipping Companies Sound Alarm Gulf Navigation Suspended Amid Tensions**<br><br>As tensions escalate between the United States, Israel, and Iran, two major shipping groups have taken unprecedented measures by suspending navigation through the Gulf, further exacerbating the growing maritime slowdown in the region.<br><br>In a move aimed at ensuring the safety of their vessels, France's CMA CGM issued a statement instructing its ships currently in the Gulf or en route to take shelter immediately. Additionally, passage through the Suez Canal has been suspended until further notice, with ships being rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. Hapag-Lloyd, the world's fifth-largest container shipping company, has also suspended all transit through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.<br><br>The announcements came as Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued warnings to several ships that the vital waterway for oil from the Gulf was basically closed, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical transit point for global oil trade, with over 20 million barrels of crude oil passing through daily in 2024, equivalent to nearly 20 percent of global liquid oil consumption, as reported by the US Energy Information Administration.<br><br>Several shipping lines, including Danish giant Maersk, have warned clients of possible delivery delays as ships are rerouted. The United States has also issued a warning to ships to stay away from the Gulf due to ongoing military activity.<br><br>The EU's naval mission to the Red Sea has confirmed that vessels had received radio messages from the IRGC stating that the Strait was blocked to traffic, despite no formal closure order. The Strait of Hormuz is frequently the scene of ship seizures and attacks. The vital corridor links the Gulf to the Indian Ocean and is situated between Iran and Oman's Musandam exclave.<br><br>Shipping association BIMCO has warned that commercial ships with Israeli or American ties could be at risk of being targeted, further highlighting the need for caution in the region.<br><br>In this time of heightened tensions, it remains to be seen how long the suspension of navigation through the Gulf will last. However, one thing is clear the maritime industry is taking no chances in ensuring the safety and security of its vessels and crew.
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