GTT halts operations in Russia

French engineering company in containment systems for LNG shipping and storage GTT has announced the cessation of its activities in Russia following an in-depth analysis of European sanction packages N° 8 and 9 prohibiting engineering services with Russian companies.

The French firm is involved in Russia in the tank design of 15 ice-breaking LNG carriers under construction by the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex, as well as in the design of three GBSs1 for Saren B.V.2.

In fact, as of 8 January 2023,...

https://container-news.com/gtt-halts-operations-in-russia/

Wheat laden vessel reaches Chittagong from Russia after 8.5 months

A wheat-laden vessel reached Chittagong port from Russia on 13 October for the first time after Moscow began a war with Kyiv in late February.

Since the war broke out, imports from Russia to Bangladesh remained halted due to sanctions imposed by western nations and war-related risks.

After sailing on 17 September from the port of Novorossiysk in Russia the vessel namely Sealuck II, a flag carrier of Malta, reached the outer anchorage of Chittagong port on 13 October carrying 53,000 tonnes of...

https://container-news.com/wheat-laden-vessel-reaches-chittagong-from-russia-after-8-5-months/

First Russian ship arrives in Bangladesh since start of Ukraine war

A Russian ship reached Bangladesh’s Mongla seaport carrying equipment for Ruppur nuclear power plant on 1 August. This is the first Russian ship that arrived in Bangladesh since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February.

The heavy load carrier/general cargo carrier, Kamilla began a journey on 28 June from Russian Tamaruk Port carrying 3,328 tonnes of machinery for the power plant.

Mongla Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa said the arrival of vessels from Russia had remained...

https://container-news.com/first-russian-ship-arrives-in-bangladesh-since-start-of-ukraine-war/

UNCTAD report: War in Ukraine pushes up shipping costs worldwide

The war in Ukraine has caused serious challenges to the trade and logistics of Ukraine and the Black Sea region, according to a new report of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which noted that the search for alternate trade routes for Ukrainian goods has increased the demands on land and maritime transport infrastructure and services.

The war situation has increased global vessel demand and the cost of shipping around the world, according to the report, while grains are of...

https://container-news.com/unctad-report-war-in-ukraine-pushes-up-shipping-costs-worldwide/

Varna set to handle increased Ukrainian cargo as Constanta overloads

Although there were no increases in the container volumes in Ukraine during the first quarter of 2022, there were more requests from Ukrainian freight forwarders to Varna West Terminal in Bulgaria, according to the terminal manager Kostadin Dimitrov.

Dimitrov said, “As Constanta terminal overloaded, we began to receive requests from Ukrainian freight forwarders interested in moving cargo via Varna terminal more often.”

Varna West Terminal manager suggests that shipping line restrictions imposed...

https://container-news.com/varna-set-to-handle-increased-ukrainian-cargo-as-constanta-overloads/

Turkish ports major beneficiary in Black Sea amid war in Ukraine

The seaports in Turkey are found to be the major beneficiary of the ongoing Russia Ukraine war. The ports in the transcontinental country got the additional cargoes as Turkey did not ban Russian flag vessels while the United States, European Union, and many Asian nations did so amid sanctions over the Ukraine invasion in late February.

Data show that the Turkish ports saw an increase in handling of transshipment cargoes by 6,000 tonnes during January-April this year compared to the same period...

https://container-news.com/turkish-ports-major-beneficiary-in-black-sea-amid-war-in-ukraine/

Russian container market update: FESCO launches new service, COSCO and ZIM drop routes

Russian liner operator Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO) has launched a service connecting the Russian Far East with China and Vietnam, after the Israeli container line ZIM pulled out of the route.

The FESCO service, called FESCO Vietnam Direct Line, is served by two ships, an owned vessel, the 1,060 TEU FESCO Trader and the 1,078 TEU A Houou, which is chartered from Starocean Marine.

The service connects the port of Vladivostok with Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City and Ningbo.

FESCO Trader was...

https://container-news.com/russian-container-market-update-fesco-launches-new-service-cosco-and-zim-drop-routes/

Russia-Ukraine war and weak currencies hit ship recycling

Ship demolition prices have been falling across the Indian sub-continent, as local currencies weaken against the US dollar.

Despite the dearth of container ships and bulk carriers being sold for scrap, owing to the firm freight rates in these segments, weak steel demand has weighed on ship demolition.

Greek ship broker Intermodal said in its latest report, dated 25 May, that poor economic conditions in the Indian sub-continent have negatively affected ship recyclers’ appetite for fresh tonnage.

Int...

https://container-news.com/russia-ukraine-war-and-weak-currencies-hit-ship-recycling/

Sinokor shows no anti-Russia stance

South Korean regional carrier Sinokor Merchant Marine is maintaining its Busan-Vladivostok liner service, bucking a trend of liner operators suspending services to Russia in the wake of the latter’s invasion of Ukraine.

The company said that there are low security risks as Vladivostok, in the Russian Far East, is far from the war zone.

Cargoes carried by Sinokor to Vladivostok are then received by Russia’s FESCO and Sakhalin Shipping Company. It has been surmised that if there are no longer ocean...

https://container-news.com/sinokor-shows-no-anti-russia-stance/

Maersk ceases all operations in Russia and Belarus

Maersk has announced the closure of its operations in Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Danish company has already stopped all vessel operations in Russia and service with Belarus and it will gradually shut down all domestic operations. “The winddown does not allow for any new business in neither Russia nor Belarus,” pointed out Maersk.

The Copenhagen-based carrier confirmed the upcoming closure of its offices in Far East Russia, Novorossiysk and Kaliningrad during the...

https://container-news.com/maersk-ceases-all-its-operations-in-russia-and-moscow/