MSC Issues Update Following Suez’s Blockade Resolution

Further to our earlier communications, we are pleased to note the reopening of the Suez Canal late on 29 March and to update you on the status of MSC vessels in the area and those being diverted.

The canal was closed for almost a week after the grounding of the MV Ever Given blocked the waterway, creating a substantial backlog of hundreds of ships. Sorting out that backlog is a complex process and will take several days, however, convoys have started to move towards their destinations.

We thank you for understanding that this incident was beyond our control and we are doing our utmost to manage delivery of cargoes in the best way possible. The incident is expected to result in a constriction of capacity, adding continued pressure on shipping and port networks well into the second quarter of this year.

Service & schedule impact

The following vessels carrying cargo for MSC customers are impacted in the Suez Canal area, or en route to the waterway, as at 1800hrs CEST, 30 March (MSC fleet in bold).

Southbound vessels anchored at the Great Bitter Lake during transit on 23 March, subsequently left the canal:

MSC ROMA (southbound) – NWC to IPAK service, voyage IP109A
MAERSK ESMERALDAS (southbound) – 2M Shogun service, voyage 107E
MAERSK SAIGON (southbound) – 2M Elephant service, voyage 107E
GUNDE MAERSK (southbound) – 2M Empire service, voyage 108W
Southbound convoy started in the morning of 30 March and expected to exit the canal the same day:

MAERSK HANOI – 2M Phoenix service, voyage 109E
MSC MIA – 2M Jade service, voyage FJ110E
MUNICH MAERSK – 2M Albatros service, voyage 110E
Northbound convoy started in the morning of 30 March and expected to exit the canal the same day:

MSC RIFAYA – 2M Albatros service, voyage FB108W
MSC ERICA – 2M Shogun service, voyage QH108W
MARY MAERSK – 2M Silk service, voyage 108W
MSC OSCAR – 2M Tiger service, voyage FT107W
MUNKEBO MAERSK – 2M Griffin service, voyage 109W
MSC AMBRA – 2M Jade service, voyage FJ107W
Southbound vessels waiting at anchor:

SEAMAX GREENWICH – Australia Express service, voyage MA108A
SEAMAX NORWALK – Himalaya Express service, voyage IS109A
GEORG MAERSK – 2M Lion service, voyage 106E
MSC GIULIA – Indus Express service, voyage IU107R
ADRIAN MAERSK – 2M America service, voyage 107E
MSC MAEVA – India-Med service, voyage MI111A
MSC MIRJAM – 2M Tiger service, voyage FT110E
MSC ISTANBUL – 2M Griffin service, voyage QG109E
GSL GRANIA – 2M Elephant service, voyage 108E
MAJESTIC MAERSK – 2M Silk service, voyage 110E
EUGEN MAERSK – 2M Condor service, voyage 109E
MSC CHANNE – Indus Express service, voyage IU108R
MSC ROSA M – Himalaya Express service, voyage IS110A
Northbound vessels waiting at anchor:

CONTI EVEREST – Australia Express service, voyage MA107R
MSC BENEDETTA – Himalaya Express service, voyage IS109R
LE HAVRE – NWC to IPAK service, voyage IP110R
EBBA MAERSK – 2M Condor service, voyage 109W
MSC RAPALLO – 2M Lion service, voyage QL109W
MSC LAUREN – Indusa service, voyage IV110A
MAERSK HAMBURG – 2M Phoenix service, voyage 107W
SEAMAX BRIDGEPORT – Indus Express service, voyage IU110A
AXEL MAERSK – 2M America service, voyage 109W
MSC AURORA – 2M Shogun service, voyage QH109W
The following vessels have been diverted around the Cape of Good Hope as an alternative to the traffic jam at the Suez Canal:

Vessels being re-routed via the Cape of Good Hope, as announced on 30 March:

MAGLEBY MAERSK – 2M Silk service, voyage 109W
ARNOLD MAERSK – 2M America service, voyage 110W
ELLY MAERSK – 2M Condor service, voyage 110W
MARCHEN MAERSK – 2M Griffin service, voyage 110W
MAERSK KOWLOON – 2M Elephant service, voyage 110W
GUNHILDE MAERSK – 2M Empire service, voyage 109W
MAERSK SANTANA – 2M Elephant service, voyage 110E
MAREN MAERSK – 2M Albatros service, voyage 109W
Vessels being re-routed via the Cape of Good Hope, as announced on 26 March:

MSC SINDY – Australia Express service, voyage MA109A
MAERSK ALGOL – 2M America service, voyage 108E
MAERSK SKARSTIND – 2M Elephant service, voyage 109E
BREMEN – 2M Emerald service, voyage UL108W
MSC BILBAO – 2M Emerald service, voyage UL109W
NORTHERN JAVELIN – INDUSA service, voyage IV109R
CONTI CORTESIA – NWC to IPAK service, voyage IP111R
Vessels which turned back as per below comments, as announced on 26 March:

MSC STELLA – India-Med service, voyage MI109R, will discharge cargo at King Abdullah Port and return to India.
SEAMAX DARIEN – Indusa service, voyage IV108R, will discharge cargo in Mediterranean ports, awaiting further orders.
Vessels which turned back as per below comments, as announced on 30 March:

MSC PAMELA – India-Med service, voyage MI110R, will discharge cargo at King Abdullah Port and return to Far East.
Vessels previously intended for Cape diversion, now being re-routed back via Suez Canal:

VARNA BAY – Indusa service, voyage IV110R
MSC AMSTERDAM – 2M Lion service, voyage QL110W
MAERSK MERETE – 2M Albatros service, voyage 111E
MAERSK MADISON – 2M Silk service, voyage 111E

Source: hellenicshippingnews.com