EMTA lines issue war risk surcharge for Israeli ports, Maersk Line closes offices

EMTA lines issue war risk surcharge for Israeli ports, Maersk Line closes offices    Member lines of the Europe/Mediterranean Trade Agreement said today that they will implement a $115 per TEU war risk surcharge for vessels serving Israeli ports, with immediate effect.
   EMTA member lines are: Navigation Maritime Bulgare, CMA CGM, Contazline, Hamburg Sud, Iscont Lines Ltd., “K” Line, Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Safmarine, Senator Lines, Turkon Lines, and Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
   In a related development, Maersk Line said that the current situation in Lebanon and Israel has forced it to close its offices in Beirut and Haifa. Maersk Line has temporarily stopped accepting import and export cargo for Lebanon. All import cargo destined for Lebanon and already on the water will be retained in Port Said, Maersk Line said.
   With the Israel’s Port of Haifa closed, the Danish carrier said that all Israeli import and export cargo will be routed via Ashdod. Export cargo from Jordan will not be routed via Israel but instead will be loaded in Aqaba, Jordan.
   Maersk Line also said that it is once again accepting import cargo to Syria while export cargo from the country is unaffected.