Several ports in Turkey were severely hit by the catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey border area last week, prompting shipping lines to divert and adjust operations.
The Turkish Maritime Authority said the southern Turkish port of Iskenderun — located in the Mediterranean coastal city in the southern Turkish province of Hatay — suffered major damage forcing the authority to stop the port activity.
"In the damage assessment made to our coastal facilities after the earthquake, it was determined that docks collapsed at Iskenderun Port," the general directorate at Turkey's transport ministry said in a tweet.
The Turkish Maritime Authority said following the destruction, inspection operations continued in ports aside from Iskenderun, although noting that operations in other Turkish ports are continuing.
Various media reports also showed videos of fire in the Turkish port of Iskenderun after the earthquake.
Global container carriers announced separate customer advisories regarding the impact on their operations and services following the developments in Turkey.
"The earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday, February 6, 2023, caused significant damage to logistics and transport infrastructure in the area. The Port of Iskenderun was the subject of substantial damage as a result of the disaster and subsequent fire, leading to a complete stop of all operations until further notice," Maersk said, adding that a subsequent fire also broke out amongst containers at the terminal.
Maersk said due to this, the Danish shipping line is currently not accepting any new bookings to and from Iskenderun — including contract bookings.
It would also need to perform a change of destination for all bookings bound for the Turkish port or those already en route.
"Our teams are hard at work developing contingency plans involving nearby hubs and additional transportation, with the aim of minimising the overall impact on customers and their supply chains."
Maersk added: "We are currently planning to divert containers to nearby hubs within operational feasibility or hold at transhipment ports — including the Port of Mersin (in Turkey) and Port Said (in Egypt)."
COSCO SHIPPING Lines also moved to suspend all bookings bound for the Port of Iskenderun in Turkey until further notice with immediate effect.
"We suggest a change of destination for all bookings bound for the port or already on the water and will try our best to achieve smooth direction," the Chinese shipping giant said.
Like Maersk, COSCO said all amendments and changes of destination would be free of charge for Iskenderun bookings until the ports involved resume normal operations.
"We regret to inform you that due to the earthquake that sadly hit Turkey and the neighbouring area on Monday, February 6, 2023, the port of Iskenderun, Turkey is impacted and led to its closure for an undetermined period of time; we are obliged to divert your cargo to Mersin," French shipping line CMA CGM said, adding that such an event is beyond its control.
"We propose, in accordance with clause 10 of the CMA CGM's bill of lading and the legal provisions governing transport, the following solutions: discharge in Mersin and delivery of the container in Mersin instead of Iskenderun; or discharge in Mersin and Intermodal transport from Mersin (carrier haulage) to the place of your choice," CMA CGM said.
Ocean Network Express (ONE) also announced it is suspending all its services in Iskenderun with immediate effect. "For all cargo currently on the water or in transit, please contact your local ONE representative for contingency plans," the shipping line said.
ONE added that terminal operations in Mersin resumed on February 7 at 08:00 (time in Turkey) and continued without any reported issues — but the terminal is expecting to face yard congestion in the coming days due to local infrastructure damages delaying container pickups.
US$679M in trade losses
Meanwhile, Maersk noted that the Port of Iskenderun remains closed until further notice, with significant damage caused by the disaster and subsequent fire in need of operational repair.
"We are currently unable to say exactly for how long operations will be stopped at the port, but we will communicate the latest information to customers as soon as possible," Maersk said.
The earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, occurred on the border between Turkey and Syria on the morning of February 6, killing more than 33,000 people.
Russell Group — a self-selected association of twenty-four public research universities in the United Kingdom — said the container fire at the Port of Iskenderun in Turkey would cause a loss in trade of around US$679 million (£562.85 million).
