Maersk suspends Chornomorsk service amid attacks

Maersk halted its service via Ukraine’s Chornomorsk and, in one note, via the Black Sea Fishing Port as Russian attacks on port infrastructure intensify, forcing reroutes to Romania’s Constanta for shipments bound for Chornomorsk. The company said the affected shipments would be redirected and that customers could request a change of destination or benefit from free cancellations for cargoes from Ukraine. This disruption follows similar moves by Kernel Holding, Ukraine’s largest grain exporter, underscoring broader industry impact on maritime export routes from the Black Sea. Ukrainian officials downplayed the severity, stating Chornomorsk remains open despite strikes, while Russia claimed it was targeting vessels and port facilities. Carriers had been gradually restoring Ukraine transit routes earlier in the war, but recent strikes on deep-water ports and civilian ships have prompted renewed suspensions and reroutings. The situation highlights how ongoing hostilities are reshaping logistics and grain exports, with rail and inland options increasingly relied upon to move cargo.