# Gulf Congestion: Fujairah Holds 28% of Waiting Bulkers > 265 dry bulk vessels are waiting across 29 Gulf ports, 74 of them off Fujairah. What anchorage congestion means for chandlers, bunker suppliers and agents. URL: https://vesselreach.si/blog/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28 | Published: 2026-10-30 | Industry news | Topic: Finding port-call opportunities ## At a glance - **What: What is happening with Gulf congestion?** Vessel waiting remains elevated across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, with 265 dry bulk vessels waiting across 29 selected ports as of 28 October 2026. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28/)) - **Who: Which port has the largest concentration of waiting bulkers?** Fujairah recorded the largest concentration, with 74 vessels, or 28% of the total, followed by Sohar. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28/)) - **Where: Where is the congestion concentrated?** Across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, with the largest waiting concentrations at Fujairah and Sohar. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28/)) - **When: When was the data recorded?** As of 28 October 2026, more than six months into the Middle East shipping crisis. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28/)) - **Why: Why is waiting elevated?** BIMCO cites the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz as the largest source of uncertainty, with attacks on ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea adding risk. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/dry-bulk-shipping-escalating-attacks-on-ships-heighten-uncertainty/)) - **How: How is the market responding?** Dry bulk trade through the affected area is disrupted, with around 4% of dry bulk trade normally moving through it, according to BIMCO. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/dry-bulk-shipping-escalating-attacks-on-ships-heighten-uncertainty/)) Gulf anchorage congestion is still elevated more than six months into the Middle East shipping crisis, and Fujairah is carrying the largest share. According to [Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28/) (29 October 2026), 265 dry bulk vessels were waiting across 29 selected ports as of 28 October, with Fujairah accounting for 74 vessels, or 28%, followed by Sohar. For ship chandlers, bunker suppliers, port agents and marine service companies, a waiting vessel is not a lost port call. It is a port call with a moving ETA (ETA, the estimated time a vessel will arrive or berth), and the supplier who reaches the right person before the berth window opens usually wins the order. ## What happened in the Gulf this week The congestion reading is the clearest operational signal in this week's shipping news. Hellenic Shipping News reports that waiting remains elevated across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, with dry bulk vessels concentrated at Fujairah and Sohar. The wider risk picture is not improving. [Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/dry-bulk-shipping-escalating-attacks-on-ships-heighten-uncertainty/) (29 October 2026) quotes BIMCO shipping analysis manager Filipe Gouveia saying the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains the largest source of uncertainty, while attacks on ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea have added another layer of risk. BIMCO notes that around 4% of dry bulk trade normally moves through the affected area. > Geopolitical disruptions continue to cloud the dry bulk market outlook. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains the largest source of uncertainty, while attacks on ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea have added another layer of risk. That combination explains why so many bulkers are sitting at anchor rather than proceeding. It also explains why their schedules are unstable. ## Why waiting vessels still buy A vessel at anchor is still consuming fuel, fresh water, provisions, spares and crew support. The purchasing decision has simply moved earlier and become less predictable. - **Bunkers:** a bulker waiting off Fujairah may take a stem at anchorage or delay until berth. The stem size and timing change with every ETA revision. - **Provisions and stores:** chandlers must deliver to the right location, which may be the anchorage by launch rather than the berth. - **Husbandry and agency:** agents handle crew changes, cash to master and port formalities, all of which shift when a berth window moves. - **Technical support:** a delay is the cheapest moment for a superintendent to book a repair or service attendance. The common thread is timing. Suppliers who quote once and wait for a reply lose the window. Suppliers who track the vessel and re-quote when the ETA changes keep the conversation alive. ## The wider market context Congestion is not the only force reshaping demand. [The Maritime Executive](https://maritime-executive.com/article/pushback-against-russian-diesel-gains-traction-with-u-s-energy-importers) (30 October 2026) reports that political opposition has hit President Donald Trump's deal with Vladimir Putin on supplying extra diesel to the US market, while [gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/lawmakers-warn-u-s-ports-and-banks-over-trump-putin-russian-diesel-deal/) (26 October 2026) reports that a bipartisan group of US lawmakers is warning banks and port authorities against facilitating Russian diesel shipments under the agreement. For Gulf suppliers, the relevance is straightforward. Product flows are being redirected by politics as well as by price, and redirected flows create new tanker port calls and new stem enquiries. [gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/first-russian-diesel-from-putin-trump-deal-heading-for-us/) (23 October 2026) reported that the first Russian diesel bound for the US under the deal was aboard a tanker heading for New York, according to ship-tracking data. Elsewhere, capacity is being added. [The Maritime Executive](https://maritime-executive.com/article/morocco-signs-new-concession-with-apm-terminals-as-port-expansion-proceeds) (29 October 2026) reports that Morocco has signed a new concession with APM Terminals as it expands container capacity and its role as a transshipment hub serving Europe. [The Maritime Executive](https://maritime-executive.com/article/cma-cgm-launches-inland-electric-barge-to-support-nike-in-vietnam) (29 October 2026) reports that CMA CGM, working with Nike and port operator Gemadept, launched an electric inland waterway barge service in Vietnam. Both point to more scheduled calls and more predictable service demand outside the Gulf. Ship recycling is steady rather than surging. [Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/ship-recycling-market-steady-as-she-goes/) (29 October 2026), citing cash buyer Best Oasis, reports that the Indian ship recycling market remains stable on healthy local steel consumption and steady demand for recycled steel. ## What it means commercially for service providers The commercial effect of Gulf congestion is a shift in where and when work is sold. Three changes matter most. 1. **Anchorage delivery becomes normal.** Suppliers who can serve vessels at anchor, with the right launch arrangements and documentation, win work that berth-only suppliers cannot quote. 2. **ETA volatility is the new quoting condition.** A stem or stores order quoted against one arrival time may need re-quoting twice. Suppliers who build that into their terms protect margin. 3. **Pre-arrival contact matters more, not less.** When a vessel may wait days, the supplier who is already in the conversation when the berth window opens has the advantage. There is a related lesson from logistics technology. [The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/ai-in-logistics-real-vs-noise-portcast/) (30 October 2026) argues that the most common misconception about AI in logistics is that it is a magic button, and that portal-hopping, chasing and manual reconciling are mostly still there. The same is true of congestion. No tool removes the waiting. What helps is knowing which vessels are waiting, who owns or manages them, and who to contact first. Suppliers who want a repeatable routine for this can start with a structured [bunker supplier prospecting routine built around vessel arrivals](https://vesselreach.si/blog/bunker-supplier-prospecting-build-a-vessel-arrival-routine), and with a clear view of [how port congestion creates opportunities for agile suppliers](https://vesselreach.si/blog/port-congestion-opportunities-for-agile-suppliers). ## How to respond this week Practical steps for chandlers, bunker suppliers, agents and yards operating in the Gulf: - Pull the current waiting list for your ports and sort by vessel type, DWT (DWT, deadweight tonnage, the weight a ship can carry) and owner or manager. - Identify the technical or purchasing superintendent for each management company, not just the vessel name. - Send a short, specific message before the berth window opens, offering a service tied to the delay. - Re-quote when the ETA changes, and keep the conversation history with the vessel record. - Respect consent and opt-outs on every channel, especially WhatsApp. For suppliers new to the region, our guide to [reading Gulf shipping news for supplier demand](https://vesselreach.si/blog/gulf-shipping-news-today-what-suppliers-should-read) explains how to separate signal from noise. ## How VesselReach helps VesselReach turns waiting vessels into named conversations before the berth window opens. - **Vessel intelligence:** see vessels near your selected ports and scheduled arrivals, which means you can contact the right company while the ship is still at anchor. - **AI company targeting and decision-maker discovery:** identify the manager, owner or operator behind each vessel and the operations, procurement or technical roles to approach. - **Multichannel outreach and follow-ups:** stage email, WhatsApp and phone contact, with AI handling routine enquiries and escalating to your team when needed. Book a VesselReach demo to see the workflow on your own ports, and ask about the 10-day free trial offered after the demo meeting. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many dry bulk vessels are waiting in the Gulf? As of 28 October 2026, 265 dry bulk vessels were waiting across 29 selected ports, according to Hellenic Shipping News. Fujairah accounted for 74 vessels, or 28%, followed by Sohar. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28/)) ### Why are so many bulkers waiting off Fujairah? BIMCO cites the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz as the largest source of uncertainty for dry bulk, with attacks on ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea adding further risk. Waiting reflects disrupted schedules and routing. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/dry-bulk-shipping-escalating-attacks-on-ships-heighten-uncertainty/)) ### Can suppliers deliver to vessels at anchor? Yes, but it requires launch arrangements and documentation suited to anchorage delivery rather than berth delivery. Suppliers should confirm the delivery location and any port restrictions before quoting. ### How should a bunker supplier handle ETA changes during congestion? Re-quote against the revised ETA, keep the conversation history with the vessel record, and confirm stem size and timing. VesselReach tracks scheduled and expected arrivals so suppliers can act before the berth window opens. ### Does congestion in the Gulf affect ship recycling? Not directly. Hellenic Shipping News reports the Indian ship recycling market remains stable, supported by healthy local steel consumption and steady demand for recycled steel, citing cash buyer Best Oasis. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/ship-recycling-market-steady-as-she-goes/)) ## Sources 1. [Pushback Against Russian Diesel Gains Traction With U.S. Energy Importers](https://maritime-executive.com/article/pushback-against-russian-diesel-gains-traction-with-u-s-energy-importers), The Maritime Executive, 2026-10-30 2. [AI in logistics: where it’s real and where it’s noise](https://theloadstar.com/ai-in-logistics-real-vs-noise-portcast/), The Loadstar, 2026-10-30 3. [Morocco Signs New Concession with APM Terminals as Port Expansion Proceeds](https://maritime-executive.com/article/morocco-signs-new-concession-with-apm-terminals-as-port-expansion-proceeds), The Maritime Executive, 2026-10-29 4. [CMA CGM Launches Inland Electric Barge to Support Nike in Vietnam](https://maritime-executive.com/article/cma-cgm-launches-inland-electric-barge-to-support-nike-in-vietnam), The Maritime Executive, 2026-10-29 5. [Gulf Congestion Rises, Fujairah Takes 28%](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gulf-congestion-rises-fujairah-takes-28/), Hellenic Shipping News, 2026-10-29 6. [Ship Recycling Market: Steady as She Goes](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/ship-recycling-market-steady-as-she-goes/), Hellenic Shipping News, 2026-10-29 7. [Dry Bulk Shipping: Escalating attacks on ships heighten uncertainty](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/dry-bulk-shipping-escalating-attacks-on-ships-heighten-uncertainty/), Hellenic Shipping News, 2026-10-29 8. [Lawmakers Warn U.S. Ports and Banks Over Trump-Putin Russian Diesel Deal](https://gcaptain.com/lawmakers-warn-u-s-ports-and-banks-over-trump-putin-russian-diesel-deal/), gCaptain, 2026-10-26 9. [First Russian Diesel From Putin-Trump Deal Heading for US](https://gcaptain.com/first-russian-diesel-from-putin-trump-deal-heading-for-us/), gCaptain, 2026-10-23 ## More on this topic Gulf congestion remains elevated, with Fujairah holding the largest share of waiting bulkers. For chandlers, bunker suppliers and agents, a waiting vessel is still a port call, just with a moving ETA. The practical response is to track vessels near your ports, identify the manager and purchasing roles, and reach them before the berth window opens. VesselReach supports that routine by combining vessel intelligence, decision-maker discovery and staged outreach across email, WhatsApp and phone. Fujairah is where most of the Gulf's waiting dry bulk tonnage sits, so the question suppliers ask is simple: how do you sell to a ship that is anchored rather than berthed? The answer is timing. A waiting bulker still needs bunkers, stores, crew support and technical attendance, but its ETA moves, so the order goes to whoever is already in the conversation when the berth window opens. Bunker traders watching Fujairah port traffic should pull the waiting list, sort it by vessel type and owner, and re-quote whenever the arrival time changes. Congestion does not remove the port call; it only changes when and where the work is sold. Related searches: gulf congestion fujairah; bunker traders; fujairah port; dry bulk shipping; dry bulk carrier --- VesselReach, built by CatalystIQ. CatalystIQ Data Classification and Analysis Services, Al Qusais, Dubai, P.O. Box 129882, United Arab Emirates. info@catalystiq.ae, +971 58 599 7894. Book a demo: https://vesselreach.si/#demo. Pricing: contact us for a quote (https://vesselreach.si/pricing).