Container Lines, Express Couriers Suspend Russia Bookings, Service
Major steamship lines and express couriers suspended Russia service in recent days in response to the war in Ukraine. Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM announced March 1 they are suspending bookings to and from all Russian ports, following Hapag Lloyd’s similar announcement Feb. 24 and Ocean Network Express’ partial suspension Feb. 28. UPS confirmed a total stop in service March 1, and FedEx on Feb. 28 stopped inbound service to Russia.
The five container carriers make up 60% of global container shipping capacity, according to Alphaliner’s Top 100. COSCO, the China-based fourth largest line, has yet to announce a similar move.
“MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is introducing as of 1 March, with immediate effect, a temporary stoppage on all cargo bookings to/from Russia, covering all access areas including Baltics, Black Sea and Far East Russia,” the world’s largest container line said that day. “MSC will continue to accept and screen bookings for delivery of essential goods such as food, medical equipment and humanitarian goods.”
Maersk’s suspension likewise covers “all Russian gateway ports,” the second-largest container carrier said. For cargo already underway and booking placed prior to the announcement, Maersk said it “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.” Nonetheless, Maersk warned of “significant delays as countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are holding back vessels en route to Russia in search of restricted commodities, primarily dual-use items.”
CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest line, said March 1: “In the interest of safety, the Group has decided to suspend all bookings to and from Russia as of today and until further notice.”
Ocean Network Alliance had on Feb. 28 announced a partial suspension, with booking acceptance to and from Odessa, Ukraine, and Novorossiysk, Russia, suspended “until further notice,” and booking acceptance to and from St. Petersburg, Russia, suspended “whilst we evaluate the operational feasibility.”
Hapag Lloyd was the first major carrier to announce a suspension of all bookings to and from Russia on Feb. 24. The carrier said March 1 that, in light of supply chain disruptions caused by sudden port closures, it “will be offering free Change of Destination (COD) fee for containers in transit, as well as free booking cancellation fees for inbound cargo to both” Russia and Ukraine.
Express couriers also implemented suspensions in service. An alert on the UPS said the courtier has suspended all international shipping services to and from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. A UPS spokesperson said, "We have contingency plans in place to continue serving customers, while avoiding restricted areas.” A FedEx alert on Feb. 25 said the courier is suspending its inbound services into Russia, along with services both in and out of Ukraine. “We are closely monitoring the situation and have temporarily suspended inbound service to Russia. we continue to provide domestic and export service in Russia where conditions allow,” a FedEx spokesperson told us Feb. 28.