Sea line carriers: operation in Ukraine from 24.02.2022

• Shipping
• Ports and Terminals

Since the beginning of military aggression of the Russian Federation and hostilities at the territory of Ukraine, maritime industry, like all economic industries, has faced significant changes. In Ukraine, as stated by the Ministry of Infrastructure, most seaports remain closed, and entry/exit of vessels is temporarily impossible. However, most sea line carriers promptly inform their customers about problem solution concerning cargo transportation into Ukraine and cargo that cannot be exported from the territory of Ukraine.

The most up-to-date information for you regarding activities of the leading sea carriers in respect of such cargos are set below*.

AP Moller – Maersk

On the first day of full-scale Russian invasion into Ukraine, the Danish shipping line Maersk decided not to call any ports in Ukraine until further notice and stopped accepting orders to and from Ukraine until further notice. The company offered the following assistance to affected customers:

• Free-of-charge services upon changing destination point shall be subject to re-stowage and shifting costs;

• No commission fee shall be charged for cancelling active bookings to and from Ukraine.

• Suspension of the Detention and Demurrage Watch for containers in Ukraine until March 3, 2022, where Maersk shall be liable for D&D. Edited on 02/03: Suspension of D&D Watch will be extended until March 11, 2022.

• Flex Hub Lite, i.e., access to 28 days of free time in certain hub ports. It is a payable service at the fixed cost amounting to $ 800. Please note that this is the customer’s choice and only if the customer wants the cargo to be stored in a port other than those chosen by Maersk. Edited on 02/03: Due to changing the situation in European sea ports, Flex Hub Lite products have been suspended due to new requests for European hubs.

Maersk has also decided to suspend all new Maersk bookings to/from Russia and Belarus.

CMA-CGM

CMA-CGM also decided to suspend all vessel calls in Ukraine from 24.02.2022 until further notice, which resulted as follows:

• BEX and BSMAR services do not cover Odessa, Ukraine.

• Bookings to and from Odessa have been suspended.

• Sea cargo transportations to Ukraine have been diverted to Constanta (Romania), Tripoli (Lebanon) or Piraeus (Greece).

To support its customers, CMA-CGM has introduced the following special conditions for cargo en route to and from Ukraine:

• Complete waiver of payment for booking cancellation;

• Change of destination point by cost. Please note that re-stowage and shifting costs may be charged.

Also, on 03.03.2022 CMA-CGM has suspended all bookings to and from Russia, as well as on 04.03.2022 it has also suspended all bookings to and from Belarus.

ZIM

Due to aggression of the Russian Federation, ZIM Shipping Line suspended calls to Odessa Sea Port (Ukraine), and therefore suspended accepting bookings to and from Odessa until further notice.

Cargo en route to Ukraine will be discharged at handling ports until further decisions. Special notices have been and will be sent to each customer whose cargo has been and will be discharged at handling ports.

From February 24 till April 1, 2022, no demurrage will be charged for all cargo currently located at the Odessa Terminal.

In addition, in view of recent events, new bookings to and from all Russian ports will be suspended until further notice.

COSCO SHIPPING Lines

In order to secure cargo safety and welfare of its employees, starting from 25.02.2022 COSCO SHIPPING Lines decided to suspend accepting new bookings for cargos to/from Ukraine. Cargo en route will be redirected to an accessible place.

In order to reduce additional costs and to minimize impact on the entire supply chain, COSCO SHIPPING Lines applies the following conditions:

• Changing destination point or return without payment of COD fee.

• Additional 14 days of free time for containers located in Ukraine or at certain ports.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

MSC has launched some operational emergency conditions and on February 24, 2022, suspended accepting new bookings for cargos to/from Ukraine.

The MSC JESSENIA R container ship had to deviate during her voyage No. XA207A, so the vessel did not call Odessa Sea Port.

Today, MSC vessels do not call at the Ukrainian sea ports, while the company is implementing other operational changes for other vessels in the region aimed to use extensive network of Black Sea ports. In such cases, the voyage shall be declared as terminated in the last port before Ukraine.

MSC is also considering the best ways to manage in-transit cargo in Ukraine, which is currently located in Black Sea and Mediterranean ports.

On March 1, 2022, MSC has introduced, with immediate effect, suspension of all cargo bookings to/from Russia, covering all access areas, including the Baltic Region, the Black Sea and the Russian Far East. Also, from March 3, 2022, MSC suspended all cargo bookings to/from Belarus.

*See official websites of sea line carriers for details.

The leading sea carriers state that storage areas in hubs are already very full, while the war in Ukraine is creating additional problems apart from the existing disruptions in global supply chain.

Please note that a company acting as consignor or consignee, or being a holder of the Bill of Lading, or acting on behalf of such persons in accordance with line carrier’s Terms & Conditions has the status of Merchant, i.e. bears all risks concerning cargo transportation to the sea carrier.

If your company has faced any problems regarding cargo transportation, documentation, cargo redirection or idle stay, Interlegal lawyers are ready to do all their best efforts aimed at settlement of your problem.

Interlegal offices are still active in foreign countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Turkey and Georgia. We also have partner relations and regular cooperation with 30 associate offices almost worldwide.

In addition to legal support, our lawyers will help you to find a reliable partner for settlement of logistics issues and for further logistics of your cargo. Karyna Gorovaya, Interlegal senior associate (+380952312517, gorovaya@interlegal.com.ua) Olesya Gorachek, Interlegal lawyer (+380952312531, gorachek@interlegal.com.ua)

Karyna Gorovaya

gorovaya@interlegal.com.ua

Olesya Ivanova

gorachek@interlegal.com.ua