Container shipping companies halt shipments to and from Russia
Several container shipping majors have temporarily suspended bookings to and from Russia amid the Russian military attack on Ukraine.
Several container shipping majors have temporarily suspended bookings to and from Russia amid the Russian military attack on Ukraine.
Maersk: Stability and safety of operations impacted by sanctions
Danish container shipping and logistics giant Maersk said it is temporarily halting new bookings within ocean, air and intercontinental rail to and from both Russia because the stability and safety of its operations are directly or indirectly impacted.
Exempted from the booking suspension to/from Russia are foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies.
The suspension began on 1 March 2022 and covers all Russian gateway ports.
“We are closely following the ever-evolving situation with governments posing new sanctions against Russia and the regular adjustments that are being made to the list of restrictions. With that in mind, we now see the clear need to establish new and revise existing processes of accepting and handling bookings,” Maersk said.
“We are also starting to see the effect on global supply chain flows such as delays and detention of cargo by customs authorities across various transshipment hubs – overall resulting in unpredictable operational impacts.”
“For cargo already underway and bookings placed before this suspension was announced, we will do our utmost to deliver it to its intended destination. Consequently, we will still call Russia although we will not accept new bookings unless they belong in the exception categories mentioned above,” the company added.
It also noted that significant delays are expected as countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and German are holding back vessels en route to Russia in search of restricted commodities.
