Hapag-Lloyd halts Russian bookings while other carriers carry on for now
Hapag-Lloyd is currently one of the only major container liners to suspend its services to Russia. Other leading liners such as Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Maersk and CMA CGM are presently operating in Russia.
PHOTO: Ukraine's port of Odessa and the Sea of Azov. NormanEinstein, Wikipedia
Maersk, CMA CGM and MSC have stopped accepting orders and calls to and from Ukraine, meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd has announced a temporary suspension of services for Russia in addition to halting its Ukraine services.
High uncertainty around the exact extent of sanctions against Russia is likely what has caused Hapag-Lloyd to suspend bookings temporarily whilst other carriers for now simply state that they are monitoring the situation, Vespucci Maritime’s Lars Jensen said.
The Bosphorus Express service (BEX) between Asia and the Black Sea and BSMAR service that connects the Black Sea and Turkey to Morocco will omit Odessa in Ukraine, says CMA CGM.
A few CMA CGM vessels that were en route to Ukraine have been diverted to discharge cargo in Romania’s Constanza port, Lebanon’s Tripoli or Greece's Piraeus.
MSC says that stacking areas at ports in the Black Sea and Mediterranean region are already very full and the company is looking at options for transporting cargo from these ports into Ukraine without going into Ukrainian ports like Odessa, which have been pummelled with Russian artillery.
Hapag-Lloyd has not officially confirmed where its Ukraine-bound vessels will be diverted, but says it has implemented contingency plans.
Maersk announced yesterday that for the time being it will continue its shipping services to and from Russia while maintaining that this is "subject to change as things develop."
All terminal operations in Odessa port and inland transportation from the port is currently suspended.
