World’s Largest Shipping Firm Suspends Russian Port of Novorossiysk’s Bookings After Ship Attack

MSC has stopped new cargo bookings to and from Novorossiysk, Russia, after a drone hit its container ship MSC Ulsan III.

The ship was hit while sailing from Novorossiysk to Tekirdağ, Türkiye. MSC said it is monitoring the security situation and will resume its weekly service when it is safe to do so.

Customers have been asked to contact the company’s Russian office for other import and export options. MSC continues to operate through other Russian ports, including St. Petersburg.

Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, reported that MSC Ulsan III was struck on Aug. 25 after leaving Novorossiysk. There were no reports of injuries, and the ship continued sailing.

AIS data showed the vessel had reached the Sea of Marmara and was off Tekirdağ. The extent of the damage is still unclear. No one has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

Attacks on commercial ships

The attack on MSC Ulsan III is the latest in a series of incidents involving commercial ships in the Black Sea.

On Aug. 21, the Turkish shipping company’s vessel RMS Team was hit by a drone while sailing toward Novorossiysk, the Ukrainian News Agency reported.

The ship has a deadweight of 12,968 tonnes and can carry about 1,100 TEUs. A fire broke out and one seafarer was reported missing.

Earlier this month, the Fesco-operated containership Yanina was hit by two drones about 130 miles from Novorossiysk and sank. The ship had a deadweight of about 13,000 tonnes.

Fesco and Turkish regional operator Kalyon then stopped all sailings in the Black Sea.

Ukraine has also said that it attacked five grain carriers at Novorossiysk and Tuapse on Aug. 17 and 18.

The attacks followed Russian strikes on ships in Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Russia said it was targeting vessels carrying military supplies.

Oil and grain operations also affected

Other activities around Novorossiysk have also been affected.

Ukraine struck an oil terminal earlier this month. It later agreed to stop attacking international tankers heading to or loading at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s offshore terminal near Novorossiysk.

Some grain terminals at the port have also stopped operating.

Attacks on Black Sea ports and commercial ships have increased since July, disrupting shipping in the region.

MSC continues to serve other Russian ports

MSC continues to run limited services in Russia after reducing its presence following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

International shipping companies still serving Russian ports mainly carry goods such as food, clothing and medicine.

MSC has a fleet with total capacity of about 7 million TEUs, according to media reports. It was the first shipping line to reach that capacity.

TEU is the standard measure used to describe container ship capacity and is based on a 20-foot container.

An employee at MSC’s St. Petersburg office confirmed that the company had suspended its Novorossiysk operations.

Shipping to Ukraine also disrupted

Maersk said on July 22 that it was temporarily stopping its service to Chornomorsk because of security concerns at the port. It said ships would be sent to Romania and that it was looking at land routes for deliveries.

Hapag-Lloyd followed on July 31. It said its feeder operators had temporarily stopped calling at Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

Container shipping to Ukraine resumed in 2024 after being halted at the start of the war two years earlier.

About MSC Ulsan III

MSC Ulsan III is a Panama-flagged container ship built in 2004. It can carry about 2,700 TEUs and has a deadweight of 39,611 tonnes.

The ship has been operated by MSC since 2022. It was carrying cargo from Novorossiysk to Tekirdağ when it was struck.

MSC Ulsan III continued its voyage after the attack and later reached the Sea of Marmara.

MSC has not said when its regular Novorossiysk service will resume. Customers have been told to contact the company’s

Russian office for alternative arrangements while it continues to monitor the security situation.

References: container-news, port news