Turkish container carrier Akkon Lines has further scaled back its Russian services. On August 27, local time, the company informed customers that, following a reassessment of the current security risks associated with services to Russia, it had decided to suspend calls at all Russian ports, including St. Petersburg, which had previously served as an alternative to Novorossiysk. Depending on the circumstances, affected cargo will either be returned to the port of origin or discharged at the port of loading. This means Akkon’s previous arrangement for maintaining its Russian services through an alternative port has also been suspended.

Key Highlights 

• All Russian port calls suspended: Akkon will no longer use St. Petersburg as an alternative to Novorossiysk 

• RMS Team attacked: The Akkon-operated container ship was struck by a drone, leaving one crew member missing 

• Black Sea services reduced: MSC and FESCO have also adjusted their Black Sea operations, further increasing transportation risks for cargo moving through Novorossiysk

Akkon Moves From Alternative Port Arrangements to a Full Suspension

Akkon did not suspend all of its Russian services immediately. In early August, as security conditions in the Black Sea deteriorated, the company first imposed a war risk surcharge on certain shipments bound for Novorossiysk. It later temporarily suspended calls at Novorossiysk and rerouted the affected cargo through St. Petersburg, charging an additional fee of approximately USD 2,500 per TEU. Several days later, the company resumed its Novorossiysk service while continuing to apply a war risk surcharge to the relevant cargo.

On August 21, the Akkon-operated container ship RMS Team was struck by a drone and caught fire while sailing to Novorossiysk. Eleven crew members were rescued, while one remained missing. The fire affected the accommodation area, engine room, and containers on deck. Akkon subsequently said that, based on the information available at the time, the vessel and its cargo could be considered a constructive total loss. Following the incident, the company moved beyond its previous port adjustment measures and suspended calls at all Russian ports, with St. Petersburg no longer available as an alternative.

△ Turkish-owned container ship RMS Team damaged

MSC and FESCO Make Further Adjustments as Carriers Scale Back Black Sea Operations

Akkon’s decision is not an isolated case. On August 26, MSC suspended new import and export bookings for the Port of Novorossiysk after its container ship MSC Ulsan III was struck by a drone while sailing to the port. Unlike Akkon, MSC continued to serve other Russian ports at that time. Earlier, the FESCO container ship Yanina was struck and sank in the Black Sea. On August 4, FESCO also announced that it had temporarily suspended new requests for shipments through Black Sea waters while reassessing security risks and alternative options.

Several carriers have reduced their Black Sea operations within a short period, placing container shipping through Novorossiysk and ports in southern Russia under greater security and operational pressure. As carriers reduce their exposure to risk, available routes and slot capacity may also be affected, requiring some cargo to be rerouted through other ports or transport routes.

Route Changes May Increase Costs and Transit Times

The impact of port changes extends beyond a change in destination. When Akkon previously rerouted Novorossiysk cargo through St. Petersburg, it imposed an additional fee of approximately USD 2,500 per TEU. If more cargo has to be rerouted through other ports, shipping routes, inland connections, and transshipment arrangements may all change, potentially increasing overall logistics costs and transit times.

Akkon has now confirmed the suspension of all Russian port calls, while MSC has suspended new bookings for Novorossiysk and FESCO has suspended some new shipment requests involving Black Sea transportation. For cargo moving through Novorossiysk and ports in southern Russia in the near term, companies should confirm whether carriers are accepting new bookings, destination port arrangements, applicable war risk surcharges, alternative routes, and onward connection times. Any further adjustments affecting other Russian ports will remain subject to the latest carrier announcements.

Sources 

Sources include Akkon Lines, MSC, FESCO, and other publicly available industry information.