Container shipping lines diverted from Beirut after the port explosion

Rescue efforts are continuing in Beirut following a massive explosion in a port warehouse believed to have killed 135 people and injured more than 4,000.

The main container terminal is about 1 km from the main explosion area in the port. CMA CGM said that the ship CMA CGM Lyra 11,365 teu, was located at the port at the time of the explosion, 1.5 km away from the explosion and no crew members were injured and the ship was not damaged.

At this stage, the damage of the container harbor is still not fully counted, although the before and after satellite images posted by Planet Labs on Twitter do not seem to show major damage. However, all port operations are stalled and leading to the major shipping lines calling Beirut already working on alternative arrangements.

“CMA CGM, with its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, immediately offered the Lebanese and French governments logistics and maritime assistance in order to respond to the emergency. The Group is ensuring everything is in place to guarantee perfect business continuity and to maintain the supply of primary necessities to the country”, said CMA CGM.

The French carrier said it is setting up a logistics hub in Tripoli and all ships will be redirected to Tripoli or other ports in the region until further notice.

Shipping line MSC said all of its staff were working from home and there were no ships in the port at the time of the blast. The company said that ships calling at the Beirut Container Terminal would bypass the port.

To ensure business continuity MSC has implemented contingency arrangements for cargo due to be loaded/discharged in Beirut until normal operations resume. These arrangements include alternative port calls (such as Gioia Tauro, Tekirdag, Mersin, Piraeus) and alternative loading and discharge operation”, said MSC.

The Hapag-Lloyd shipping line canceled the Port of Beirut of the Fleur N of the "Levante Express Service" on 7 August and cargo to the Lebanese port would be unloaded in Egypt. The Norwegian APL "East Med Express" service, scheduled to call Beirut on August 7, will also be diverted to Tripoli.

As a temporary precaution, Hapag-Lloyd stopped taking cargo to and from Beirut.

Phaata (Adapted from Seatrade-Maritime)

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