Liner giants Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) have suspended services to the Ukraine.
The 2M partners have begun implementing contingency measures including diverting vessels away from conflict zone.
Geneva-based MSC said it had also stopped accepting new booking for the cargo to and from Ukraine.
The company added that the 3,379-teu MSC Jessenia R (built 2001) had been required to deviate during its voyage and would omit calling Odessa.
Separately, Maersk said it was diverting cargoes originally bound for discharge in Ukraine to Port Said (Egypt) and Korfez (Turkey).
“The current circumstances mean that Maersk has decided not to call any ports in Ukraine until further notice and will stop the acceptance of orders to and from Ukraine until further notice,” the company said.
Still serving Russia
Both companies maintain liner services to Russia, but these are potentially subject to change as things develop, Maersk warned.
“Maersk will be closely following how events unfold to gain a better insight into the situation,” it said.
“For the time being MSC ships will not call at Ukrainian ports and we are implementing various other operational changes to other vessel in the region to make use of our wide Black Sea port network,” MSC added.
The Swiss company said it would review how best to manage cargo for transit to Ukraine that is currently lying at ports in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. It plans to declare a voyage as ended in the last port prior to Ukraine.
Maersk added that employees had been instructed to work from home away from any conflict areas.
Boxships marooned
Some boxship owners with ships on charter to operators in the region appear to have had a lucky escape.
The 1,732-teu Hansa Limburg (built 2006) left the port early this morning and is sailing toward Istanbul, according to the vessel German owner Leonhardt & Blumberg.
The vessel operates for Germany's Hapag-Lloyd in a Black Sea feeder service.
However, the fate of two other container vessels in the port of Odessa at the time of the Russian invasion remains unclear.
These include the 9,400-teu Joseph Schulte (built 2013), owned by the Schulte Group. The vessel operates for Cosco Shipping in the Ocean Alliance’s Asia-Black Sea service.
Another vessel listed as being in the port before the outbreak of fighting is the 3,534-teu Bach (built 2009), controlled by Borealis Maritime.
The vessel was on charter with Israeli carrier Zim in its intra-Mediterranean services.
