PTI continues to reflect on how the Russian invasion of Ukraine is impacting the ports sector, reflecting on the headlines from the last week.
In our last update, we delved into how several of the world’s biggest shipping lines have suspended bookings to and from Russia and Ukraine.
A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has now taken this one step further, by selling its stake in Russian terminal operator Global Ports Group.
Confirmed by Global Ports on 10 March, the Board of Directors was notified of APM Terminals B.V., Maersk’s terminal arm, of its intention to divest its 30.75 per cent stake in the operator due to the invasion.
Several shipping lines, including Maersk, have also suspended their bookings to and from Belarus.
“After careful consideration, we now see the clear need to establish new and revise existing processes of accepting and handling bookings for Belarus,” said Maersk in a recent customer advisory.
“We already have strict controls in and out of Belarus in connection with existing sanctions, but we must now ensure our processes comply with the latest sanctions and import controls with regard to the crisis in Ukraine.”
The Port of Duisburg (Duisport) has ceased all business activity in the country on the border of Russia in support of Ukraine.
Duisport is also divesting both its minority stake (0.59 per cent) in the international development company of the industrial and logistics park Great Stone as well as its stake in Eurasian Rail Gateway CJCS (38.9 per cent) that planned the building and operation of a bimodal terminal.
Lastly, in a recent report from GateHouse, it revealed that significantly more container ships have been docking at Constanta in Romania, a large portion of which should have been destined for Ukraine.
Furthermore, the number of vessels docking in Odessa is remaining fairly constant, but this may be due to ships in the city’s port not being able to get out.
