Feeder operators serving Hapag-Lloyd have temporarily suspended vessel calls to Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdennyi amid a deterioration in the security situation in Ukraine’s Odesa region.
The suspension affects the three Ukrainian Black Sea ports and will remain in place until further notice. Hapag-Lloyd said feeder connections to the destinations are currently unavailable.
Cargo originally scheduled for the affected ports may therefore need to be discharged elsewhere. Any alternative arrangement will depend on operational feasibility as well as the safety and security assessments applying to the shipment.
Hapag-Lloyd is evaluating Reni, Ukraine, as its preferred alternative discharge location for affected cargo where this is feasible. The carrier may contact customers directly to obtain instructions for changing the destination to Reni.
Reni is not being presented as an automatic replacement for every shipment. Hapag-Lloyd said its use will depend on whether the option is workable for the cargo concerned.
Where discharge at Reni is not operationally or commercially feasible, a change of destination to Romania or Poland may be considered. These alternatives will be assessed individually, based on the details of each shipment and the instructions provided by the customer.
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The carrier said it is continuing to assess and implement operational alternatives under the applicable Bill of Lading terms and conditions. This includes Clause 17, “Matters Affecting Performance”, which covers circumstances affecting the planned carriage of cargo.
Hapag-Lloyd stated that the measures are intended to safeguard cargo and limit further disruption while calls to the Odesa-region ports remain suspended.
Customers may face additional costs if an alternative arrangement is required. Hapag-Lloyd said expenses arising from storage, onward carriage, a change of destination or other necessary operational measures will be charged to the cargo interests in accordance with the applicable Bill of Lading terms.
The company has directed customers to their local Hapag-Lloyd representative for details of the available options and the charges that may apply.
The notice does not set a date for the resumption of feeder calls at Chornomorsk, Odesa or Pivdennyi. It also does not identify a single alternative route for all affected shipments.
Instead, the carrier will review the options according to cargo requirements, customer instructions and the operational and commercial feasibility of the possible destination. Until the suspension is lifted, customers with Ukraine-bound cargo may be contacted to agree on a revised discharge plan.
The suspension applies specifically to feeder vessel calls and the associated connections used to reach the three ports. Hapag-Lloyd’s notice does not announce a wider withdrawal of Ukraine-bound cargo services beyond the arrangements described for the affected shipments.
For more information:
Hapag-Lloyd – https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/
