Maersk has launched a new weekly container service to Ukraine, pushing forward amid escalating Russian attacks on merchant ships and Ukrainian ports.
According to the Ukrainian news portal Dumskaya, the first vessel under this service departed from Port Said, Egypt, on Thursday and is scheduled to reach Chornomorsk on October 22.
Maersk’s Ukraine office issued a statement to clients, emphasizing that the new service “marks a significant step forward in enhancing efficiency and connectivity for our customers in the Ukrainian market.”
Currently, Maersk operates four feeder ships between Chornomorsk and Constanta, Romania. It is not yet clear if the new service will supplement or replace these existing operations.
Russia’s intensified targeting of merchant vessels and Ukrainian ports has raised concerns over the sustainability of Ukraine’s maritime trade.
These attacks have driven up insurance premiums sharply, with more vessels choosing to disable their AIS (Automatic Identification System) signals to avoid detection and attack in Ukrainian waters.
Maersk’s continued operations in Ukraine reflect a commitment similar to Hapag-Lloyd, which resumed container services to Ukraine last year, affirming it would maintain its operations despite the security risks.
