Following the interruption caused by the Russian invasion, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have recommenced operations to Ukraine's principal Black Sea ports. Hapag-Lloyd has initiated a sea shuttle service connecting Constanta and Chernomorsk, while Maersk, in collaboration with Iteris, has introduced the first deep-sea container service to Ukraine. Additionally, MSC Mediterranean Shipping is set to renew feeder service offerings to the port of Odesa, targeting the first visit in mid-June.
Hapag-Lloyd's new service links the Fishport terminal in Chernomorsk with the DP World terminal in Constanta, starting on 27 May with subsequent departures every five days. This service aims to offer benefits such as schedule flexibility, availability of reefer plugs for refrigerated cargo, and the circumvention of congested inland channels, alongside mitigating road weight limitations and reducing local formalities and costs at Constanta.
Maersk, in partnership with Ukraine's feeder operator Iteris, is deploying a vessel with a capacity exceeding 1,100 TEU to connect Chornomorsk and Constanta, marking a significant step in reestablishing a vital trade corridor. According to Daniil Melnychenko from Informall BG, this service is expected to see a volume increase in the forthcoming months, potentially facilitating direct shipments from Turkey and Egypt to Ukraine, thus avoiding Romania.
Source: marineinsight.com