The CMA CGM Group has suspended calls by its vessels to Ukraine, the firm announced on Thursday.
The Marseille-based carrier said the firm had been closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea region in recent days.
This comes after Interfax Ukraine reported this week that there had been rocket attacks on military bases, including airfields and warehouses across the country, and that Russian troops had landed in the southern port cities of Odessa and Mariupol.
Since yesterday’s invasion, Russia has also suspended all merchant movement in the Azov Sea, effectively cutting off the Ukrainian supply chain through the Port of Mariupol.
This morning Reuters news service also reported heavy shelling of Ukraine’s most important sea freight port.
Staff and passengers were reportedly also evacuated from Kiev’s Boryspil International Airport. According to the BBC, approximately 200 000 troops were deployed near Ukraine's borders.
“Over the past several days, we have taken all necessary measures to protect our employees and ensure, as much as possible, the continuity of the supply chain,” CMA CGM said.
“The safety of our employees and their families in Ukraine is our main focus.
“We are thankful to report that, at the moment, all of them are safe.”
CMA CGM added that its staff would be working from home until further notice, as part of its business continuity plan. “Our security team will be monitoring developments 24/7 to ensure constant contact with them.
“In the interest of safety, the Group has decided to suspend all vessel calls to Ukraine as of today and until further notice.”
As a result of the decision, the BEX and BSMAR services will omit Odessa and Ukraine.
In addition, bookings to and from Odessa have been suspended and the floating cargo to Ukraine will be redirected to the ports of Constanza (Romania), Tripoli (Lebanon) or Piraeus (Greece).
“We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional measures as necessary to protect our employees, our crew members and to allow the transportation of our customers’ goods,” said CMA CGM.
