Danish container shipping giant Maersk has suspended operations at the Chornomorsk Fish Port in Odesa Oblast, redirecting its vessel Medkon Mira to the Romanian port of Constanța. The company said it can no longer serve the route due to the 'current situation' and that restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
Cargoes destined for Chornomorsk that are currently in Port Said, Egypt, or en route there will also be diverted to Constanța, Maersk said. Clients unhappy with the change can request an alternative destination. Any onward transport from Romania to Ukraine must be arranged separately, covering routes, timelines and costs.
Export bookings from Chornomorsk can be canceled without penalty. For containers already delivered to the port, Maersk offers to shift the loading point to Constanța at the same ocean freight rate. Truck delivery from Ukraine to Romania must be organized independently.
The suspension applies only to the Chornomorsk Fish Port. Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry noted that the main deep-water port in Chornomorsk continues operating.
Maersk did not explicitly cite Russian strikes as the reason for the halt. However, over the past month the Russian military attacked 28 civilian vessels in Odesa Oblast, Inna Verba, a spokesperson for the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, told Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Twenty-one people were killed and 34 wounded. On the night of Wednesday, July 22, a fire broke out on the bulk carrier Golden Rose after a drone attack. Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said 16 sailors — citizens of Syria and Egypt — were evacuated; no one was injured.
Russia's Defense Ministry, according to the state news agency TASS, reported striking a dry cargo ship, a bulk carrier and another vessel, claiming they were delivering cargo for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk. On July 19, Russia attacked the Turkish dry cargo ship Golden Leo, flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau and carrying grain, with cruise missiles near Odesa, killing 10 people. India's Foreign Ministry called the strike unacceptable.