Shipping companies are actively avoiding the Middle East region following strikes initiated by the US and Israel against Iran. The US has established a maritime warning zone, effectively making the area off-limits to commercial vessels. Concurrently, airlines have suspended passenger and freighter flights across the Middle East. This situation is occurring alongside other maritime and labor news, including a federal court's dismissal of an ILA complaint regarding Virginia rail cranes, CMA CGM's planned launch of a standalone Japan-Europe express service in April, and Gemini partners' revamp of certain Asia services to Europe and the Mediterranean. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are also rerouting some March sailings away from the Red Sea/Suez Canal.