FEW CHANGES TO MIDDLE EAST CONTAINER SERVICES

FEW CHANGES TO MIDDLE EAST CONTAINER SERVICES    Shipping lines said that they continue to provide container services to and from the Middle East Gulf, despite the start of war in Iraq.
   Kuwait-based United Arab Shipping Co. said that its services have remained unchanged, including its dedicated feeder link between Dubai and Kuwait.
   CMA CGM said that its has temporarily suspended its Iraq feeder service, which had called at Umm Qasr. Other Middle East services of the carrier remain otherwise unchanged.
   Maersk Sealand said that its Middle East services have remained unaffected by the military situation. Knut Pontoppidan, executive vice president of A.P. Moller, said that Maersk Sealand has maintained its feeder service to Kuwait.
   “As the conflict begins in Iraq, APL continues to provide customers comprehensive services to and from the Middle East region, but is monitoring the situation closely,” APL said in a “war contingency” advisory issued on Friday.
   The carrier said that it has contingency plans in place relating to different scenarios and levels, duration and extent of conflict.
   “Our people, our assets and our customers’ cargo continue to be our primary concern and we will do what we can to ensure their safety and security,” APL said. However, the shipping line warned that services may have to be changed.
   APL, P&O Nedlloyd and other carriers consider that the closure of the Suez canal is unlikely. But APL said that, if this happens, Asia/Europe vessels will be diverted via the Cape of Good Hope.