Russia’s Fesco stops taking Black Sea cargo orders after container ship sinks

Fesco, a major Russian transport group, has halted accepting cargo applications for Black Sea shipments following the sinking of its container ship Yanina, according to a Telegram post on August 4. The company is currently implementing additional safety measures and exploring alternative delivery options. Logistics operators are concerned that these alternatives may lead to new bottlenecks in Russia's Far East ports, potentially resulting in a surge in cargo volumes comparable to 2022, when much of Russia's imports were redirected through the Strait of Hormuz.

This current situation could repeat itself, warns a source from a major logistics company. The suspension of container transport through Novorossiysk, where Fesco was one of the leading operators alongside the Delo Group, means that the main import flow will now shift to Far Eastern ports and St. Petersburg. However, these routes are facing challenges, with St. Petersburg being unsafe due to drone attacks and the shortest route from China to St. Petersburg passing through the volatile Strait of Hormuz.

Ship schedules indicate a 38% drop in voyages by large vessels from Novorossiysk in July compared to May, with a significant decrease in oil tanker and grain bulk carrier traffic. Sea drones have also attacked merchant vessels, disrupting shipping. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces have been targeting Russian transport ships and the so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, leading Russia to limit the operation of three major grain terminals following Ukrainian drone strikes.