Shipper MSC Ups Deliveries to Russia While Parsing Sanctions Regimes
Shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Co. continues to accept deliveries of food, medicine, health-care equipment and humanitarian aid from Russia, the company confirmed in response to questions from Bloomberg. MSC is attempting to draw a balance between cutting business ties with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and continuing to provide essential goods to the nation, the company told Bloomberg, the news outlet reported July 14.
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According to data from IHS Markit and Wood Mackenzie/Genscape, at least 17 MSC container ships have stopped at Russian ports a combined 84 times between March 1 and July 3. This means MSC nearly tripled its services to Russian ports and doubled its moorings when measured again the same period a year earlier. MSC visits at least the five following ports: Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
An MSC spokesperson said the company condemns the invasion but continues to back workers affected by the situation and operate a sanctions compliance program to ensure its business is carried out legally. The company carries goods such as "fruit, vegetables, milk powder, canned and dehydrated foods, and exports include grains, cereals, vegetable oil and frozen meat," Bloomberg reported.