Russia / Ukraine update | Maersk

May 11th, 2022 – Update 13

At A.P. Moller – Maersk, we have been constantly evaluating the situation in Ukraine with a view to minimising disruption to our customers and returning services to normal as quickly as possible.

In light of the most recent developments, Maersk can now confirm that we have identified merchant haulage and carrier haulage options to and from Ukraine via Poland or Romania.

Merchant haulage to/from Ukraine will be strictly under customer responsibility. Carrier haulage options will be subject to local management approval, operational feasibility, and further conditions.

To discuss details in full and find a solution that meets your needs, we encourage you to reach out to your sales representative and local customer experience representative via the following email address:

Export: [email protected]
Import: [email protected]

May 04th, 2022 – Update 12

Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost importance to us, and as your integrated logistics partner, our aim is to ensure that you have the necessary information to better plan your logistical network. In line with this we would like to inform you about the latest developments in Russia.

Earlier we have communicated A.P. Moller – Maersk would cease all our operations in Russia and Belarus. Maersk has now stopped all vessel operations in Russia and service with Belarus. For the domestic operations, they are gradually being winded down and/or divested. The winddown does not allow for any new business in neither Russia nor Belarus.

The safety and stability of our people remains at the forefront of our minds, and we have worked steadily to ensure that our people are safe. We have done our utmost to withdraw from Russia in a responsible way, with our offices in Far East Russia, Novorossiysk and Kaliningrad expected to close down during the summer of 2022. The Saint Petersburg and Moscow office will run until the end of the year. Our Belarus office will also be shut down during the summer.

In parallel, safeguarding our customers’ supply chains remains a top priority. Our teams have been in close contact with our customers during the past months and for the affected cargo we have done our utmost to deliver it to initially planned end-destinations or to offer a change of destination where practicable, legally allowed and reasonable for our customers. However, for some customers this has not been possible despite our efforts. We will always work with the objective of minimising disruption to our customers’ supply chains and we strongly encourage affected customers to keep the lines of communication open between our teams. This is to ensure that we find the best solutions for your company’s logistics.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

March 17th, 2022 – Update 11

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, A.P. Moller – Maersk is keeping a close eye on developments and making necessary adjustments in line with the latest restrictions and export controls. Our teams are working around the clock to find solutions that safeguard our people, operations and our customers’ supply chains.

The effects on global supply chain flows is resulting in unpredictable operational impacts. As the situation is ever-evolving, please contact your local customer experience representative to discuss options and solutions for your impacted cargo and specific shipments.

We have made an FAQ available above that summarises what we have communicated so far and includes the most frequent questions our customers are asking us.

March 04th, 2022 – Update 10

As the crisis in Ukraine continues and governments impose new sanctions on Russia and its allies, A.P. Moller – Maersk is keeping a close eye on developments and making necessary adjustments in line with the latest restrictions.

After careful consideration, we now see the clear need to establish new and revise existing processes of accepting and handling bookings for Belarus. We already have strict controls in and out of Belarus in connection with existing sanctions, but we must now ensure our processes comply with the latest sanctions and import controls with regard to the crisis in Ukraine.

For Belarus, going forward, only bookings for foodstuff, medicines and humanitarian supplies (except dual use) will be accepted after extensive screening. This exemption is to underline that Maersk is focusing on social responsibility and making the efforts to support society despite the complications and uncertainties within the current supply chain.

In addition, as Maersk acts in full compliance with legal regulations and its policies, we cannot engage with, receive from or make payments to any sanctioned banks, or any other sanctioned party – including Belarusian and Russian parties.

Intercontinental Rail (ICR) and Air

Off the back of newly imposed sanctions, Maersk has now temporarily suspended new intercontinental rail bookings without exception both east and westbound between Asia and Europe until further notice.

If you have cargo currently in transit or have completed a booking before this suspension was announced, we will do our utmost to get it delivered to its intended destination across the normal routes.

Maersk has also suspended all new air bookings to and from Russia and Ukraine until further notice. We do see a potential risk to the cost of air transportation, as airspace gets restricted and flights are further subject to rising fuel and insurance costs.

To give you as much visibility on the situation as possible through the weekend, we have made available an FAQ below that summarises what we have communicated so far and includes the most frequent questions our customers are asking us.

We will keep monitoring the situation and reviewing impacts from sanctions, with an ambition to stabilise operations as quickly as we can. Please do not hesitate to contact our Maersk Customer Experience teams to discuss options and solutions for your cargo.

March 03rd, 2022 – Update 9

We at A.P. Moller – Maersk are closely following the ever-evolving situation of new sanctions against Russia and the regular adjustments that are being made to the list of restrictions.

Earlier this week we communicated that until further notice, all new Maersk bookings within ocean, air and intercontinental rail to/from Russia would be suspended due to direct and indirect sanctions and that exempted from this booking suspension was foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies. We have also warned about the stability of our operations due to the uncertainties with applications of sanctions.

An increasing number of our terminal service providers in Europe are advising us that they will no longer be able to handle any additional cargo originating or destined for Russia, including transshipments. As the stability of our operations and our customers’ cargo is critical, we are now also temporarily stopping acceptance of all new Maersk bookings to/from St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Novorossiysk, regardless if the cargo is food, medical or humanitarian. Far East Russia is currently not impacted.

For cargo already on underway, we are working with ports in Europe to clear backlogs and exploring options in other ports outside of Europe so that we can keep our customer promise of delivering our customers’ cargo to its intended destination.

It is key for Maersk that we protect our people, minimise supply chain disruption and do not add to the global congestion in ports and depots. We have communicated different options that customers impacted by the crisis can make use of. Among the options are free Change of Destination (COD) services and no cancellation fees on bookings to and from Ukraine and Russia. We have also extended the interim stop of the Detention and Demurrage clock for Ukraine imports and exports and Russia exports to March 11th.

A final option is for our customers to do nothing, bearing in mind the increasing congestion in European hubs. For cargo that is on its way to Russia and Ukraine, that we are currently unable to deliver due to the various restrictions, we will not charge hub storage fees. However, we cannot guaranty that the container will be stored in the port first discharged at, as due to current hub port constraints, we might need to move the container to nearby ports to ease yard density.

We strongly encourage all customers with cargo destined to or originating from Ukraine and Russia to discuss these possibilities with us in the interest of safeguarding your cargo. Please reach out to your local customer experience team for further details and how to apply for your business.

We will keep monitoring the situation and reviewing impact from sanctions and export controls, with an ambition to stabilise operations as quickly as we can.

March 02nd, 2022 – Update 8

We at A.P. Moller – Maersk are closely following the ever-evolving situation of new sanctions against Russia and the regular adjustments that are being made to the list of restrictions.

Yesterday we communicated that until further notice we will suspend new bookings to/from Russia and that exempted from this booking suspension was foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies. However, given the uncertainties with applications of sanctions, we are seeing significant delays in European hubs for Russia bound cargo.

As the stability of our operations and our customers’ cargo is critical, it is with great regret that we now also have to temporarily stop acceptance of all new reefer bookings (chilled and frozen) to/from St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. The gateways in Novorossiysk and Far East Russia remain open at this present time.

To further cope with the congested network in European ports, we are temporarily holding the release of equipment for confirmed booking as well as stopping all stuffed containers destined to Russia at first load port or transshipment port.

It is key for Maersk that we protect our people, minimise supply chain disruption and do not add to the global congestion in ports and depots. We have announced different relief packages that customers impacted by the crisis can make use of. Among the options are free Change of Destination (COD) services and no cancellation fees on bookings to and from Ukraine and Russia. We have also extended the interim stop of the Detention and Demurrage clock for Ukraine imports and exports and Russia exports to March 11th. We would still like to highlight that for the cargo that is on its way to Russia and Ukraine that we are currently unable to deliver due to the various restrictions, we will not charge hub storage fees. With the evolving situation with ports in Europe, the Flex Hub Lite products is temporarily suspended for new requests for European hubs.

We strongly encourage all customers with cargo destined to or originating from Ukraine and Russia to discuss these possibilities with us in the interest of safeguarding your cargo. Please reach out to your local customer experience team for further details and how to apply for your business.

We will keep monitoring the situation and reviewing impact from sanctions and export controls, with an ambition to stabilise operations as quickly as we can. Please also continue to visit our web advisory page on Maersk.com for the latest updates.

March 02nd, 2022 – Update 7

We at A.P. Moller – Maersk are closely following the ever-evolving situation with governments posing new sanctions against Russia and the regular adjustments that are being made to the list of restrictions. Our teams are working around the clock to find solutions that safeguard our people, operations and our customers’ supply chains.

As communicated yesterday, Maersk has now suspended bookings to/from both Russia and Ukraine until further notice. Exempted from the booking suspension to/from Russia is foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies. We do, however, warn caution on still placing bookings for perishable cargo due to significant delays in key transshipment hubs that may damage the cargo. Customs authorities in the EU and UK are now inspecting all units to/from Russia transiting their terminals/ports to identify sanctioned and restricted shipments (main focus is sanctioned parties and restricted or banned goods). This is a direct consequence of the sanctions, but there are also indirect impacts as all cargo is getting delayed and our already congested transshipment hubs are getting more pressured. This is a global impact, and not only limited to trade with Russia.

Our teams are in constant contact with the local customs and port authorities to speed up the release of goods not impacted by sanctions and export controls, giving priority to humanitarian items. However, we cannot give any guarantees as to when then units will be released and we do see significant risk to our customers’ perishable cargo with increased transit times, cargo detention and cost of transportation. As the integrity of our customer promise is of paramount importance to us, we feel obligated to inform you about these ripple effects.

Relief packages:

For customers impacted by the temporary booking suspension to/from Russia, we would like to offer:

• Free Change of Destination services, subject to re-stowage and shifting costs*.
• No cancellation fee on active bookings to and from Russia*.
• Interim stop of the EXPORT Detention and Demurrage clock for containers at Russia until March 11th, 2022, where the D&D responsibility lies with Maersk. Please also note that the interim stoppage has also been extended to March 11th for Ukraine cargo**.
• Flex Hub Lite – access to up to 28 days free time in selected hub ports. This is a chargeable service that comes at a price of US $800*. Please note that this is by customer choice and only if the customer wants the cargo stored in a different port than the one decided by Maersk. Edit: 02/03: With the evolving situation with ports in Europe, the Flex Hub Lite products is temporarily suspended for new requests for European hubs.

*subject to operational feasibility
** for relief packages connected to bookings to/from Ukraine, see update 2 on Maersk.com
***A final option is also to do nothing. We would like to highlight that for the cargo that is on its way to Russia and Ukraine, that we are currently unable to deliver due to the various restrictions, we will not charge hub storage fees.

It is key for Maersk that we protect our people and minimise supply chain disruption and do not add to the global congestion in ports and depots. We strongly encourage all customers with cargo destined to or originating from Ukraine and Russia to discuss these possibilities with us in the interest of keeping operations as smooth as possible. Please reach out to your local customer experience team for further details and to apply for your business.

We will keep monitoring the situation and reviewing impacts from sanctions and export controls, with an ambition to stabilise operations as quickly as we can. Please do not hesitate to contact our Maersk Customer Experience teams to discuss options and solutions for your cargo. Please also continue to visit our web advisory page on Maersk.com for the latest updates.

March 01st, 2022 – Update 6

At A.P. Moller – Maersk, we are deeply concerned by how the crisis keeps escalating in Ukraine. We are closely following the ever-evolving situation with governments posing new sanctions against Russia and the regular adjustments that are being made to the list of restrictions. With that in mind, we now see the clear need to establish new and revise existing processes of accepting and handling bookings.

We are also starting to see the effect on global supply chain flows such as delays and detention of cargo by customs authorities across various transshipment hubs – overall resulting in unpredictable operational impacts.

As the stability and safety of our operations is already being directly and indirectly impacted by sanctions, new Maersk bookings within ocean, air and intercontinental rail to and from Russia will be temporarily suspended, with the exception of foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies (bar dual-use items).

This exception is to underline that our company is focusing on social responsibility and making the efforts to support society despite all the complications and uncertainties within the current supply chain to/from Russia.

The suspension will begin today and cover all Russian gateway ports. We will announce further details during today and the coming days as we progress with the planning.

Every decision we have made during this crisis has been with Maersk employee safety and customer supply chains in mind, and these will continue to be our top priorities in light of the newest developments. We will also continue to put plans in place so that all affected employees and their families get the support needed.

It is key for Maersk that we minimise supply chain disruption and do not add to the global congestion in ports and depots. For cargo already underway and bookings placed before this suspension was announced, we will do our utmost to deliver it to its intended destination. Consequently, we will still call Russia although we will not accept new bookings unless they belong in the exception categories mentioned above.

However, please expect significant delays as countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are holding back vessels en route to Russia in search of restricted commodities, primarily dual-use items. The inspections of export and transshipment cargo bound for Russia are related to implementing procedures to comply with sanctions and export controls recently imposed by different jurisdictions.

Our teams are in constant contact with the local customs and port authorities to speed up the release of all goods not impacted by sanctions and export controls, giving priority to humanitarian items such as foods, medicines and hygiene and personal care. The delays are expected to have ripple effects across the regional ocean network, resulting in further delays and congestion.

As Maersk acts in full compliance with legal regulations and its policies, we cannot receive from or make payments to any sanctioned Russian banks, or any other sanctioned party.

Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost importance to us and we are working to give you everything you need to run your global logistics in these circumstances. We will keep monitoring the situation and reviewing impacts from sanctions, with an ambition to stabilise operations as quickly as we can. If you are affected by the above sanctions and export controls, please do not hesitate to contact our Maersk Customer Experience teams to discuss options and solutions for your cargo. Please also continue to visit our web advisory page on Maersk.com for the latest updates.

February 28th, 2022 – Update 5

In light of the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we at A.P. Moller – Maersk are closely monitoring and preparing to comply with the ever-evolving sanctions and restrictions imposed against Russia while we safeguard our operations and our people in consideration of the constant developing situation. Our preparations include a possible suspension of Maersk bookings to and from Russia on ocean and inland.

We are at the same time keeping a close eye on developments and assessing the best options for our customers and their cargo. For cargo already on the water we will do our utmost to deliver it to its intended destination. We have a sharp focus on safeguarding reefer containers and keeping cold chain operations as stable as possible, as the commodities include important goods such as groceries and pharmaceuticals. We are doing everything possible to prevent risk to the above cargo and in turn risk to the end-users in need of these commodities. It’s also worth noting that air space is also gradually being restricted and our air services will be impacted.

The security and well-being of Maersk employees remains a top priority and we continue to put plans in place so that all affected employees and their families get the support needed. We have global coverage for any customer requests coming to the Ukraine Customer Experience teams. Normal requests will be handled as usual, but we ask for patience as global teams handle country-specific requests.

Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost importance to us and we are working to give you everything you need to run your global logistics in these circumstances. We expect to be able to share more information with you later today.

February 27th, 2022 – Update 4

As the situation in Ukraine continues, A.P. Moller – Maersk is keeping a close eye on developments and assessing the best options for our customers and their cargo. Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost importance to us and we are working to give you everything you need to run your global logistics in these circumstances.

To prevent congestion in key ports, we are moving cargo to and from Ukraine to ports with less yard density that still possess the required reefer plugs to retain perishable commodities, and earlier this week we announced a series of relief packages. We can already see some customers making use of these packages, and we strongly encourage all customers with cargo destined to or originating from Ukraine to discuss these possibilities with us in the interest of keeping operations as smooth as possible. Among the options are free Change of Destination (COD) services and no cancellation fees on bookings to and from Ukraine – please reach out to your local customer experience team for further details and to apply for your business. Air and Rail offerings can also serve as means of alternative transport for cargo still at origin.

The security and well-being of Maersk employees remains our top priority. We are in frequent contact with our people and it gives us great comfort to know that they are safe and accounted for.
We have global coverage for any customer requests coming to the Ukraine Customer Experience teams. Normal requests will be handled as usual, but we ask for patience as global teams handle country-specific requests. For our seafarers that are directly impacted by the situation, crew changes were stopped for those on the way to home to Ukraine due to security concerns and they have now been set up in Poland for the next few days as we track the situation.

We are also continuing to monitor developments in nearby waters, understanding that the situation could escalate and have a further impact on our people and services. Please continue to visit our web advisory page on Maersk.com for the latest updates, as throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible.

February 26th, 2022 – Update 3

As we move into the weekend, we’re not seeing many further updates to our operations and services concerning the situation in Ukraine. Our teams are working on applying the sanctions that have already been communicated and will continue to adapt to further sanctions that are expected in the coming days. If you are impacted by the sanctions against certain banks, please work with our finance team to establish temporary payment solutions.

As the security and well-being of Maersk employees remains our top priority, we are in frequent contact with our people and it gives us great comfort to know that they are safe and accounted for. We are also continuing to monitor developments in nearby waters, understanding that the situation could escalate and have a further impact on our people and services.

Earlier this week we communicated a full stop to bookings destined to or originating from Ukraine. Cargo currently en route to Ukraine is being discharged in Port Said and Korfez. As ports in Europe have endured pressure for quite some time already, we are very mindful of how we handle the global supply chain to manage congestion in key ports. As such, we are moving cargo where we can to nearby ports with less yard density which still possess the required reefer plugs to retain your perishable commodities. We therefore encourage customers to consider assessing Change of Destination options to smoothen your supply chain.

Yesterday we announced different relief packages that customers impacted by this booking stoppage could make use of. Understanding that flexibility is key to our customers at this period of time, we are offering:

• Free Change of Destination services, subject to re-stowage and shifting costs.
• No cancellation fee on active bookings to and from Ukraine.
• Interim stop of the Detention and Demurrage clock for containers in Ukraine until March 3rd, 2022, where the D&D responsibility lies with Maersk.
• Flex Hub Lite – access to up to 28 days free time in selected hub ports. This is a chargeable service that comes at a fixed cost of US $800.

*subject to operational feasibility

If you’d like to make use of any of the above, please don’t hesitate to contact our local Maersk teams to learn how you can apply for your business. Also please discuss alternative means of transport, utilising our Air and Rail offerings.

Please note that our services to/from Russia – including Air and intercontinental rail (ICR) services, which do not pass Ukraine – currently remain available but are potentially subject to change as things develop. Please continue to visit our web advisory page on Maersk.com for the latest updates.

Giving you the best ability to manage your supply chain is of the utmost priority to us and we are working to give you the tools and information you need to do so. Throughout this process we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible, and our local Customer Experience teams are here to answer your questions.

February 25th, 2022 – Update 2

Due to the current situation in Ukraine that has seen Maersk stop accepting bookings to and from the country until further notice, our teams have been working around the clock to find solutions that suit our valued customers and their cargo. Your supply chain is of the utmost importance to us and we are doing all we can to keep things moving despite the circumstances.

We regret the impact this may have on your business and would like to extend our assistance to those impacted by this stoppage. Understanding that flexibility is key to our customers at this period of time, we would like to offer the following relief packages:

• Free Change of Destination services, subject to re-stowage and shifting cost.
• No cancellation fee on active bookings to and from Ukraine.
• Interim stop of the Detention and Demurrage clock for containers in Ukraine until March 3rd, 2022, where the D&D responsibility lies with Maersk. Edited 02/03: Interim stoppage of D&D clock to be extended to March 11th
• Flex Hub Lite – access to up to 28 days free time in selected hub ports. This is a chargeable service that comes at a fixed cost of US $800. Please note that this is by customer choice and only if the customer wants the cargo stored in a different port than the one decided by Maersk. Edit: 02/03: With the evolving situation with ports in Europe, the Flex Hub Lite products is temporarily suspended for new requests for European hubs.

 *subject to operational feasibility
**A final option is also to do nothing. We would like to highlight that for the cargo that is on its way to Russia and Ukraine, that we are currently unable to deliver due to the various restrictions, we will not charge hub storage fees.

By offering the above mentioned, our aim is to give you sufficient room to assess the different options most fitting for your business, and manoeuvre some of the current pressure points caused by the Ukraine situation, all to lessen the impact to your supply chain, which is of the utmost importance to us.

Please note that our services to/from Russia – including AIR and intercontinental rail (ICR) services, which do not pass Ukraine – currently remain available but are potentially subject to change as things develop. Please continue to visit our web advisory page on Maersk.com for the latest updates.

Our teams are here to serve you, so please do not hesitate to reach out to your local Maersk representative should you have any questions.

February 24th, 2022 – Update 1

In light of the situation in Ukraine that saw conflict break out overnight, we would like to give our valued customers an update on the situation and what it means for A.P. Moller – Maersk services across the region.

Firstly, the safety and wellbeing of our employees is of paramount importance to Maersk and we have plans and policies in place to provide them with the necessary support. As of February 24, all Maersk employees have been instructed to work from home away from any conflict areas and we are pleased to report that they remain safe and well. We have also implemented a business continuity strategy so that we can continue to serve our customers’ supply chain needs as the situation allows.

The current circumstances mean that Maersk has decided not to call any ports in Ukraine until further notice and will stop the acceptance of orders to and from Ukraine until further notice. Cargo currently en route to Ukraine is being planned for discharge in Port Said and Korfez; if this affects you then please expect a customer experience representative to get in touch shortly if they haven’t done so already.

Services in Russia, meanwhile, currently remain available but are potentially subject to change as things develop.

Maersk will be closely following how events unfold to gain a better insight into the situation, with teams across the company working with the intense focus of keeping global logistics moving. We will continue to adapt to the situation in order to deliver your cargo safely.

It is key for us that we give you the best ability to manage your supply chain and we are working to provide the information you need to do so. Throughout this process, we aim to give as much clarity and notice as possible, so please continue to visit this advisory page where the latest situational updates will be added daily. As a Maersk customer you can also access our Logistics Hub to make use of our interactive map functionality and AI-powered analysis to predict more accurate estimated times of arrival (ETA).

Our teams are here to serve you, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss alternative means to transport your cargo.