World’s largest container shipping company suspends Novorossiysk service after drone strikes
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co., the world’s largest container shipping company, has suspended new bookings to and from Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after one of its vessels was struck by a drone, Bloomberg reported.
The decision took effect immediately following a recent strike on the MSC ULSAN III while the vessel was en route to Novorossiysk, according to a notice MSC sent to customers and seen by Bloomberg. The company did not specify when the incident occurred.
MSC said it was closely monitoring the situation and advised customers to contact its Russian agency about alternative logistics options for imports and exports until security conditions allow regular weekly services from Novorossiysk to resume.
An employee at MSC’s St. Petersburg office also confirmed to Bloomberg that the company’s operations in Novorossiysk are currently idled.
MSC, like most international container shipping companies, significantly reduced its operations in Russia after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its remaining shipments to Russia largely include goods such as food, clothing and medicines.
The company continues to operate through other Russian ports, including St. Petersburg in northwestern Russia.
Attacks on commercial vessels and ports in the Black Sea have intensified since July, disrupting grain exports from both Russia and Ukraine and contributing to wheat prices reaching a three-year high, Bloomberg reported. Shipping activity across the Black Sea and Sea of Azov has also fallen sharply, affecting Russian steel and coal exports.
Earlier in August, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ukraine and Russia had been presented with a proposal for a moratorium on strikes against vessels in the Black Sea.
Reuters later reported that Ukraine had proposed a mutual halt to attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea. Russia has not publicly agreed to the proposal.