Container lines are reacting to the crisis in Qatar by switching services to Oman and offloading cargoes to feeder services.

It follows a diplomatic meltdown that has led to the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain closing their ports to Qatari-registered ships and vessels bound for the state's ports.

Maersk Line has been among the first liner companies to react, saying it would resume trading with Qatar using transhipment services from Oman's Salalah port.