Maersk Line has become the first container line to reorganise its services to Israel, announcing it is to cease calling at the port of Haifa in response to the country’s escalating conflict with Iran. may be other global shipping lines may follow suit according to threat risk reports
Port of Haifa is blocked
Port of Haifa is blocked after an unusual daytime assault, Iran launched missile barrages targeting it The attack came just hours after Maersk issued a customer advisory reporting after “carefully analyzing threat risk reports,” that it would suspend port calls to Haifa.
A statement of the Line
In a statement sent to clients, the company confirmed: “After carefully analyzing threat risk reports regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran—particularly the potential risks of calling specific Israeli ports and their implications for the safety of our crews, Maersk has made the decision to temporarily suspend vessel calls at the Port of Haifa, Israel and also suspend cargo acceptance for Haifa.”
Iranian ballistic missiles
The move came following Iranian ballistic missiles struck strategic points in Haifa, including an oil refinery and suspected military logistics sites, sending plumes of smoke over the critical trade hub
The port at Haifa is Israel’s busiest
The port at Haifa is Israel’s busiest and most important link enabling international trade and exports as well as receiving and processing import containers supplying goods to the local population. Any degree of constraint to the accessibility of these and other ports in the region will add significant pressure to the remaining infrastructure as companies scramble to secure capacity and services to other entry and exit points across the region,” said Gartner VP analyst David Gonzalez.
The first vessel of 17,480 TEU vessels
On the other hand Maersk has named the first vessel in a series of 17,480 TEU vessels equipped with dual-fuel methanol propulsion. The naming event took place on 18 June at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) yard in Ulsan, South Korea.
The vessel, Berlin Mærsk, is the 14th dual-fuel newbuild entering the Maersk fleet, and it will be followed by additional five sister vessels in this new class of container ships.On 7 July, Berlin Mærsk have made its first port call in Shanghai, where it entered service on Maersk’s AE3 service connecting Eastern Asia with Northern Europe.
Related :Maersk names its 11th vessel ‘Albert Maersk’ in Mumbai
Source Image of explosion : Tehran Times
