Russia-Ukraine war: Global ship titans suspend reservations to, from Russia

Several world shipping giants have suspended reservations to and from Russia amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ocean Network Express (ONE), Maersk, MSC and Hapag-Lloyd all suspended operations in the country this week, according to Bloomberg for the first time.

ONE – the sixth largest container ship in the world and the second largest in Asia – announced on Tuesday that it had suspended reservations to and from Odessa, Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict; Novorossiysk, Russia; and St. Petersburg, Russia, enters into force immediately.

The shipping containers sit on the deck of the cargo ship One Crane, operated by Ocean Network Express Holdings Ltd., moored at the ECT Delta terminal in the port of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Monday, September 21, 2020. The Netherlands reports a second quarter gross domestic production on 23 September.  Photographer: Peter Boer / Bloomberg via Getty Images

The shipping containers sit on the deck of the cargo ship One Crane, operated by Ocean Network Express Holdings Ltd., moored at the ECT Delta terminal in the port of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. (Peter Boer / Bloomberg)

“The current safety and well-being of ONE employees and staff in the region is of great importance and concern. At the moment, ONE’s representatives in the region are safe and continue to work remotely, “said Singapore-based ONE.

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MSC and Maersk, the world’s first and second largest shipping companies, respectively, made similar announcements on Tuesday.

“We are deeply concerned about the crisis in Ukraine. We are closely following the governments that are imposing new sanctions on Russia, affecting operations by direct and indirect restrictions. Reservations of new Maersk to / from Russia will be suspended, except for food, medical and humanitarian supplies, “Maersk tweeted on Tuesday.

The Danish company added that its decision to make exceptions for food and humanitarian supplies “is to emphasize that our company focuses on social responsibility”.

MSC stated that it is issuing a “temporary suspension of all cargo reservations to / from Russia, covering all access areas, including the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Far East of Russia”, which will take effect immediately, except for food and humanitarian supplies .

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MSC “closely monitors government advice on new sanctions following the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022 and operates shipping and domestic services to and from Russia in full compliance with international sanctions applicable to it,” the company said.

The shipping containers are aboard the Maersk container ship in the Port of Los Angeles on February 9, 2022 in San Pedro, California.  (Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images)

The shipping containers are aboard the Maersk container ship in the Port of Los Angeles on February 9, 2022 in San Pedro, California. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Hapag-Lloyd announced its suspension of bookings to and from Russia on Sunday, according to Bloomberg.

The suspensions are coming as the American credit card company MasterCard blocks the services of many Russian financial institutions. In addition, Harley-Davidson, Volvo and General Motors are suspending car exports to Russia.