The Beirut container port was back to operation after the explosion

The container port of Beirut, Lebanon

Hapag-Lloyd said that after this positive news, the company would immediately restore shipping routes to Lebanon, via the port of Beirut.

The German carrier’s first vessel on the Levante Express (LEX) Service tha will call Beirut, will be Mona Lisa (voyage 2031W), on August 14. The ship will also carry imported cargo from the Fleur N (voyage 2030W) that omitted its Beirut call and discharged cargo in Damietta.

Hapag-Lloyd's East Med Express (EME) service will also reinstate the Beirut port call, with the CMA CGM Musset (voyage 031S / 033N) being the first vessel on August 15.

“Alongside our service reinstatement, we are also reopening booking acceptance for cargo to and from Beirut” said a statement, which added “We kindly ask for your patience while we are still evaluating the extent of the damage on our containers that were present in the port at the time of the blast".

The French shipping line CMA CGM also reinstated the call with its ship Nicolas Delmas, which successfully operated at the port on Monday.

The company added, “With immediate effect, all CMA CGM lines will resume their calls at Beirut port according to their normal schedules, and our intermodal services will be fully ensured in the country thanks to the mobilisation of our local staff and partners”.

The Port of Beirut suffered a major explosion on August 4 at a warehouse, where 2,750 tons of explosive ammonium nitrate, seized from an captured ship, was stored. The death toll is thought to have risen to more than 220 people and injured 6,000.

Phaata (Adapted from Container-News)